Is it harmful to learn too much trivia?

[dratsab]

Not so much in the fact that you are wasting time, but does it cause too much interference? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interference_theory) For example, if I pick up a little knowledge about everything, will I ultimately jumble it all up, and end up struggling to remember anything (or at least a good deal of) what I have been learning? This kind of bothers me if it's true. I thought I remembered reading in a psychology book that interacting with different subjects caused the brain to expand in networks, and thus learning more and more would capitalize on it's potential, but this theory seems to be just the opposite. Your thoughts?

 

[SamirS]

Not so much in the fact that you are wasting time, but does it cause too much interference? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interference_theory) For example, if I pick up a little knowledge about everything, will I ultimately jumble it all up, and end up struggling to remember anything (or at least a good deal of) what I have been learning? This kind of bothers me if it's true. I thought I remembered reading in a psychology book that interacting with different subjects caused the brain to expand in networks, and thus learning more and more would capitalize on it's potential, but this theory seems to be just the opposite. Your thoughts?

Well I can tell you that I've read just about anything I got into my hands since I could read (age 4, my mother taught me because I wanted to learn stuff on my own), and when I was that little kid I even read the refrigerator manual. This habit I've never lost, and until today I can remember most stuff I read (not into perfect detail, but if I could do that I'd probably be a savant). On the contrary even - if you have a wide area of "trivia" knowledge (what's trivia anyway? My level of knowledge about contemporary pop culture is maybe on the 1998 level. I would consider "trivia" to know at least some important basic about any important field of knowledge), and deep knowledge of your area, you can combine it to new ideas. That's what's creativity made of.

However if you read a wikipedia article somewhat quickly, don't think about it, and do this all day long, I can imagine that you won't keep any knowledge due to lack of repetition.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I used to know the answer to this question, but I can't recall it just now.

 

[dratsab]

Hmm, thanks for the input, SamirS, and for the comedy, Jimmy, hoho. The only thing I have noticed is trying to memorize words that sound similar. For example, when I was younger, anagram, acronym, and antonym were easy to jumble up. Antonym was easy to distinguish because it rhymes with synonym, but the others I had to think about for a bit. I think this could be the case with remembering similar concepts.

 

[LudusRex]

I can say that there is no clear consensus on whether learning too much trivia can be harmful or not. Some studies suggest that constantly learning new information can improve brain function and memory, while others suggest that it can lead to information overload and difficulty in retaining important information.

One theory that may provide some insight into this question is the interference theory. This theory suggests that when new information is learned, it can interfere with the retrieval of previously learned information. In other words, if you are constantly learning new trivia, it may become more difficult to recall important information that you have already learned.

However, it is important to note that this theory is not fully proven and there are many other factors that can affect memory and learning. For example, the way information is organized and connected in the brain can also play a role in memory and retention.

Additionally, the idea that learning about a variety of subjects can expand the brain's networks is still a valid concept. This is known as the concept of cognitive flexibility, which suggests that exposure to different subjects and ideas can improve problem-solving skills and overall cognitive functioning.

So, while learning too much trivia may potentially cause interference, it is not the only factor that affects memory and learning. It is important to strike a balance between learning new information and consolidating previously learned information. This can be achieved by organizing and connecting information in meaningful ways and focusing on important concepts rather than just trivia.