Flashbulb memory
- Detailed, vivid and stable autobiographical memories that are formed when we hear of a shocking and/or emotional event (Brown and Kulik, 1977).
- We often remember exactly where we were when we first heard this news.
- More likely to be formed when the news is unexpected or shocking and when it is personally important or meaningful.
Examples
- People often remember who they were with, how they felt and what they were doing when they heard about the 9/11 attacks.
- Brown and Kulick (1977) identified six aspects of the situation that often make up flashbulb memories:
- where the event occurred;
- who else was there;
- what they were doing when they heard;
- who told them;
- their feelings at the time;
- what happened after.
Why is it important ?
- The detail and durability of flashbulb memories compared to other autobiographical memories shows that memory can be very accurate.
Criticisms
- Whether flashbulb memories are really any more accurate than other memories, whether a special memory mechanism is involved, and how flashbulb memories are formed and maintained are all topics of debate.