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Flashbulb 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. www.psychlotron.org.uk.

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Flashbulb memory

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  1. 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 www.psychlotron.org.uk

  2. 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 www.psychlotron.org.uk

  3. Flashbulb memory • Where you were • What you were doing • How you were informed • How you reacted • How others around you reacted www.psychlotron.org.uk

  4. 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 • Shock, arousal also important www.psychlotron.org.uk

  5. Flashbulb memory • Challenges to concept of FBM: • Neisser (1988) compared PPs recall of Challenger disaster after 2 days and 2 years • Found all accounts had changed over time, some were ‘wildly inaccurate’ www.psychlotron.org.uk

  6. consistency confidence Diana everyday everyday Diana Imm. 10 weeks Imm. 10 weeks Flashbulb memory • Platania & Hertkorn (1998) – recall for death of Princess Diana www.psychlotron.org.uk

  7. Highly accurate Contained major distortions Flashbulb memory • Squire (2000) – recall of OJ Simpson verdict 100% 50% 0% www.psychlotron.org.uk 1 mo 12 mo 15 mo 3 years

  8. 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 www.psychlotron.org.uk

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