Question

doug cannot find his keys, but cannot remember where. this is an example of

absentmindedness
blocking
bias
transience

Explanation:

Analyze the memory failure scenario

The scenario describes Doug misplacing his keys and failing to remember where he put them. This is a classic lapse in attention during the encoding or retrieval phase of a routine activity.

Evaluate the options based on Schacter's Seven Sins of Memory

• Absentmindedness: Lapses in attention and forgetting to do things or misplacing items (e.g., losing keys or glasses) because attention was focused elsewhere during encoding.
• Blocking: A temporary inability to access stored information (the "tip-of-the-tongue" phenomenon).
• Bias: How current feelings and worldview distort memories of past events.
• Transience: The decreasing accessibility of memory over time (gradual fading).

Determine the correct match

Misplacing keys because of a lapse in attention is a classic example of absentmindedness.

Answer:

• absentmindedness (Correct answer)
• blocking
• bias
• transience