Which theory of forgetting suggests that learning of something new can overshadow previously learned information?

The theory of forgetting that suggests the learning of something new can overshadow previously learned information is interference. This concept posits that new learning can interfere with or disrupt the recall of older memories. There are two main types of interference: proactive interference, where older memories hinder the ability to learn new information, and retroactive interference, where newly acquired information makes it difficult to remember previously learned material. In the context of the question, when new information is learned, it can overshadow or overshadow the recall of earlier learned materials, demonstrating the principle of interference effectively.

Other options, while related to forgetting, do not directly address the situation described. Repression refers to the subconscious exclusion of painful memories from awareness, which is more about emotional content than the overshadowing of learning. Fading suggests that memories may weaken over time without reinforcement, while retrieval failure focuses on difficulties in accessing stored memories rather than new learning interfering with old. Thus, interference is the most fitting explanation for the phenomenon described in the question.