Flashbulb Memory IB Syllabus Says Evaluate one theory

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

• 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 Mc. Closkey 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 confidence Diana everyday Diana Imm. weeks 10

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

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