Which memory sin involves the difficulty of retrieving information due to distractions?

Prepare for ASU's PSY101 Exam 2. Utilize comprehensive study guides with multiple-choice questions. Understand psychological concepts and processes. Ace your test!

The concept of blocking refers to the experience when an individual is unable to retrieve information from memory, often because attention is diverted or overwhelmed by distractions. In cognitive psychology, this is recognized as a common issue where a person knows they have the information stored in their memory, but external factors or competing thoughts hinder their ability to access it.

For instance, if someone is trying to recall a friend's name while also engaged in a noisy environment or while thinking about something else, the distraction can create a mental block, leading to frustration when the information cannot be accessed. This phenomenon underscores the importance of context and focus in memory retrieval.

The other concepts listed, such as misattribution, suggestibility, and bias, involve different types of errors or distortions in memory processing. Misattribution refers to incorrectly recalling the source of a memory, suggestibility involves the influence of external cues on memory recall, and bias relates to how personal beliefs and emotions can distort memories of factual events. Each of these does not directly pertain to the challenges of retrieving information in the presence of distractions, making blocking the most accurate choice for this question.

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