Final answer:
Retroactive interference happens when new learning inhibits the recall of older information, interfering with memory storage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes a situation where more recent learning impairs memory for something that happened further back in the past is retroactive interference. This memory phenomenon occurs when newly learned information inhibits the ability to recall older information. For instance, if a student learns about Erikson's theory of psychosocial development after studying the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, they might struggle to remember Ebbinghaus's work due to the more recently acquired knowledge about Erickson's theory. This is distinct from proactive interference, where old information interferes with the recall of new learning.