Question

The curve of forgetting was first drawn by:

• A. Pavlov
• B. Skinner
• C. Ebbinghaus
• D. Levin

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Ebbinghaus

• Hermann Ebbinghaus, a German psychologist, is indeed credited with creating the first curve of forgetting.

• In the late 19th century, Ebbinghaus conducted a series of experiments on memory and forgetting, using himself as the subject. He memorized lists of nonsense syllables and then tested his recall at increasingly longer intervals.

The resulting curve, known as the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, shows that:

1. Initial forgetting is rapid (short-term memory loss)

2. Forgetting slows down over time (long-term memory retention)

Ebbinghaus' work laid the foundation for our understanding of human memory and forgetting.