In your dorm room the light switch is just inside the door. When you go home for your first weekend visit of the semester, you go into your bedroom and reach for the light switch. However, there is no switch since your bedroom is lit by table lamps. Reaching for the light switch that isn't there is an example of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reaching for the light switch that isn't there is an example of interference, specifically proactive interference, where old memories interfere with the recall of new memories. In this case, the habit of turning on the light switch in the dorm room interferes with remembering the different setup at home.

In Your Dorm Room the Light Switch Is Just Inside