Flashbulb Memory

Flashbulb memories are also a part of autographic memory. These are vivid, long-lasting memories of when you first heard surprising and emotionally arousing news (Brown & Kulik, 1977, Matlin, 1998, p. 155; Benjamin, Hopkins, & Natio, 1994.p.272). The usage of the term is usually refered to events of public importance, such as Kennedy's assasination. Flashbulb memories often seem more vivid than others. Research on flashbulb memories investigates various sub-topics such as flashbulb memory accuracy compared to memory for other events.

According to research by Roger Brown and James Kulik (Matlin, 1998) found six things that people most commonly remembered in flashbulb memories:

1. Who told them the news
2. What they were doing when they were interrupted with the news
3. Where they were when they heard the news
4. How they felt upon Shearing the news
5. Others' emotional reactions to the news
6. What happened afterwards (the aftermath) PERSONALLY OR GENERALLY??

Why do flashbulb memories seem more vivid?

It might be because of the high levels of surprise, emotion, and perceived importance. Arousal, pleasant or unpleasant, does tend to improve memory (Bradley, Greenwald, Petry, & Lang, 1992); (Benjamin, Hopkins, & Nation, 1994.p.274). Almost like a highlighter, the brain marks the event as important or memorable.

It is also possible that these memories are more likely to be discussed in conversation (repetition) or relived in the mind (rehearsal). These things will strengthen the encoding of the information.

Are flashbulb memories really more accurate?

Flashbulb memories are probably not much more accurate than other memories. Researchers studying flashbulb memories are indeed more accurate than other memories. In 1977, Brown and Kulik stated that they were not as accurate as a photograph, but that they do include deatils otherwise forgotten (Matlin, 1998).

The day the Persian Gulf War broke out in 1991, professor and researcher Weaver had his students write down how they heard of the announcement of the start of the Gulf War. He also told them to record a normal event in daily routine that coincidentally happened that day. Although the war-related events more emotional than ordinary events, they were equally susceptible to being forgotten. When he had them recall the both events three months later, the ordinary events were recalled just as accurately as were the Gulf War announcement memories. However, the confidence of the accuracy was much higher for the Gulf War memories. (Benjamin, Hopkins, & Nation, 1994 p.273-4)

In 1992, Neisser and Harsch (Matlin, 1998) reported many errors in people's recall of the Challenger crash. Rememberer's recollections are far from exact. (Brewer, 1992; McCloskey, 1992; Weaver, 1993; as cited in Matlin, 1998).