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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flashbulb memories Relatively little evidence for FBMs 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