directed forgetting

Directed forgetting is a psychological process where individuals intentionally forget or discard certain information when prompted. Often studied in memory research, it shows that people can control what they remember by following instructions to ignore or forget specific details. This ability helps manage unnecessary or potentially distracting information, allowing the brain to focus on relevant material. Essentially, it's like choosing to delete certain data from your memory based on new instructions, demonstrating that memory is adaptable and not just a passive record.