Flashbulb Memory IB Syllabus Says: Evaluate one theory of how emotion may affect one cognitive process (i.e. How flashbulb memory theory explains the influence of emotion on memory )

Flashbulb memory Originally described by Brown & Kulik (1977): Exceptionally vivid memories Usually of important events with emotional significance Resistant to forgetting over time Debate centres on whether they are a special case, or the same as other memories

Flashbulb memory Typical ‘flashbulb’ events are dramatic, unexpected, shocking E.g. disasters, deaths of prominent figures (esp. if unexpected), momentous events World Trade Centre Kennedy, Princess Diana Fall of Berlin Wall

Flashbulb memory These are the aspects that Brown and Kulick (1977) propose are remembered vividly for flashbulb memories: Where you were What you were doing How you were informed How you reacted How others around you reacted They propose that there is a biological memory mechanism which leads to these exceptionally vivid memories

Flashbulb memory Surveys about dramatic events: Brown & Kulik (1977) found US PPs tended to have vivid memories of political assassinations All PPs good recall of Kennedy, Black PPs better recall of Medgar Evers (civil rights worker) Shows importance of relevance of the information – culture seems to influence things Shock, arousal also important (physiological arousal – amygdala)

Neisser (1982) proposed that the enduring nature of FBM is a result of rehearsal and reworking after the event We use the conventions of storytelling recounting important events – FBMs are just as susceptible to distortion as other memories. Its difficult to check the accuracy of flashbulb memories – nothing different about them E.g Neisser himself was sure he was listening to the baseball when pearl harbour was bombed in WWII – but it couldn’t have been possible because it wasn’t in the baseball season

Flashbulb memory Challenges to concept of FBM: Neisser & Harsch (1992) compared PPs recall of Challenger disaster after 24 hours and 2 years Found all accounts had changed over time, some were ‘wildly inaccurate’ 40%

Furthermore, The McCloskey et al. (1988) study also proposes that flashbulb memories are not special memories (see key study)

Flashbulb memory Platania & Hertkorn (1998) – recall for death of Princess Diana consistency Imm. 10 weeks confidence Imm. 10 weeks everyday Diana everyday Diana

Flashbulb memory Squire (2000) – recall of OJ Simpson verdict 100% 50% 0% 1 mo12 mo15 mo3 years Highly accurate Contained major distortions

Flashbulb memories Relatively little evidence for FMBs as a distinct memory process They ‘feel’ accurate (we are confident in recall) but are just as prone to forgetting & change as other episodic memories