Final answer:
Cramming for a psychology and history exam may lead to less accurate memory for history due to retroactive interference. It's advisable to use distributed practice over time and apply the self-reference effect for better memory consolidation and recall.
Step-by-step explanation:
If cramming for a psychology and history exam, your history memory may be less accurate due to interference. Specifically, this is an example of retroactive interference, which occurs when new learning disrupts the recall of previously learned material. In this case, the material studied last (psychology) interferes with the ability to recall the information studied first (history).
Interference can be divided into two types: proactive and retroactive. Proactive interference happens when old information makes it difficult to learn new information, whereas retroactive interference is when new information disrupts the memory of old information.
Memory consolidation requires time, and cramming multiple subjects in a short period does not allow for this process to occur effectively. Therefore, it's better to use distributed practice over time, which can aid the consolidation of memories and enhance recall accuracy. This approach works in concert with the self-reference effect, where making the material personally meaningful improves memory retention.