associative interference

Associative interference occurs when our memory for a specific piece of information is disrupted because related memories are also active. For example, if you're trying to recall your friend's name, but other similar names are also mentally present, they can interfere and make it harder to remember the correct one. This happens because our brain links related ideas or items together, and when multiple associations are active, they can compete with each other, causing confusion or difficulty in retrieving the desired memory.