Memory Analysis

Memory Analysis

The first emotional factor in forgetting is flashbulb memory (FBs).

This is a memory where an individual has a detailed and enduring

recollection of the context in which they first heard about a

personally important event.

Psychological research has told us about the role of FBs. For

instance, in 1977, Brown and Kulik wanted to identify what kind of

events generated FBs. They suspected that the national events were

likely to generate FBs, but that they may be differences between white

and black Americans in what events triggered them.

They asked 40 white and 40 black Americans to fill out a

questionnaire. Participants answered advertisements in newspapers and

therefore were a volunteer sample. The questionnaire consisted of a

list of 10 events about assassinations, attempted assassinations and

other important events. For each event, participants were asked ’do

you recall the circumstances in which you first heard that…’. If they

answered ’no’, they moved onto the next event. If they answered

’yes’, the participant was asked to free recall the circumstances in

any form or order.

Brown and Kulik found that white people had greater recall for events

concerning white individuals and black people had greater recall for

events concerning black individuals.

From doing this study, Brown and Kulik suggest that both consequence

and surprise are characteristics of biologically important events, and

this may lie behind the reason we have FBs.

In 1998 Cahill and McGaugh further suggested that surprising events

create increased hormone levels because they are emotionally arousing.

Such hormones have been known to create stronger memories.

One explanation for FBs, then, is that high emotional arousal creates

more lasting memories. An alternative explanation is that such

memories become deeply embedded because they are constantly revisited

and rehearsed.

In 2000, Schmolck et al investigated the events surrounding the

verdict in the O.J. Simpson murder. His research suggested that FBs do

decay and are not enduringly accurate.

In 1993, Wright claimed that Fbs were subject to the same processes as