Download Flashbulb Memory

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 )
Introduction:
• The interaction between emotion and the cognitive
process of memory can be seen through research
into flashbulb memory.
• There is evidence to suggest that emotion plays a
significant role in memory, and the amygdala
appears to play an important role in emotional
responses… thus having an impact on memory.
• However, the debate still centers around whether
flashbulb memories are a special kind or memory,
or just as unreliable as other types of memory.
Flashbulb memory: Definition
• This phenomenon was originally described by
Brown & Kulik (1977) and they defined them as:
– Exceptionally vivid memories
– Usually of important events with emotional
significance
– Resistant to forgetting over time
• The debate centres on whether they are a
special case, or the same as other memories
What qualifies as a flashbulb
memory?
• Typical ‘flashbulb’ events are dramatic,
unexpected, shocking
– E.g. disasters, deaths of prominent
figures (esp. if unexpected),
momentous events. E.g.
– Terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Centre
– Death of Kennedy, Princess Diana
– Fall of Berlin Wall
What is remembered in a Flashbulb Memory?
These are the aspects that Brown and Kulick
(1977) propose are remembered vividly for
flashbulb memories:
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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
Research into Flashbulb Memory
• Research consists of Interviews and surveys about
dramatic events:
– Brown & Kulik (1977) first to describe this type of
memory, they interviewed US participants tended
to have vivid memories of political assassinations
– In their study, all participants had good recall of
Kennedy assassination, BUT they found that black
participants had a better recall of Medgar Evers (a
civil rights worker) death
• This shows importance of relevance of the
information – culture seems to influence things
• Physiological arousal may also be important (the
Amydgala seems to play a key role here)
FBM: Discussion
• You will work in three groups to prepare
for a seminar on this topic.
• Read the article and prepare to engage
others in a discussion
• You have 20 mins to prepare
Brown and Kulik (1977)
Flashbulb
Memory:
Research
support
(80 participants)
Challenges to the concept of Flashbulb
memory…..
– 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
– Furthermore, The McCloskey et al. (1988) study also proposes
that flashbulb memories are not special memories (see key
study)
Flashbulb
Memory:
Research
criticism
Evaluation: 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
• Evidence is still mixed.
•
Reflection: Based on brown and Kulik’s (1977) study and
McCloskey’s (1988) study flashbulb memory, evaluate how
flashbulb memory influences the cognitive process of memory.
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Questions to check your
understanding
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What is a flashbulb memory?
Which researchers first proposed the concept of flashbulb
memories?
What method did Brown & Kulick (1977) use in their study?
Make two evaluative points for the Brown and Kulik (1977)
study
What conclusions did McCloskey et al (1988) come to about
flashbulb memories?
What did Neisser (1982) propose?
Outline some research that refers to the importance of the
amygdala in memory.
What conclusion can we come to about emotion and memory
by examining the research into flashbulb memories?
SAQ:
• Evaluate one theory of how emotion
may affect one cognitive process
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Unpack the question – what is it asking?
What should you include?
How will you answer this type of question?
How will you structure it?
SAQ Outline..
• Explain how you will answer the question –
what theory/research will you use.
• The Theory - Explain what FBM Theory and
‘Now Print’ – The main question – are FBMs a
special type of memory?
• Support for FBM - Brown & Kulick (1977)
Interview study + Evaluation
• The importance of the amygdala
• Phelps et al. (2004) 9/11 fMRI study +
Evaluation
• Counter claims – McCloskey (1988) +
Evaluation.