Flashbulb Memory

A flashbulb memory is a highly detailed, exceptionally vivid 'snapshot' of the moment and
circumstances in which a piece of surprising and consequential (or emotionally arousing) news was
heard. The term "flashbulb memory" suggests the surprise, indiscriminate illumination, detail, and
brevity of a photograph; however flashbulb memories are only somewhat indiscriminate and are far
from complete. Evidence has shown that although people are highly confident in their memories,
the details of the memories can be forgotten.

Flashbulb memories are one type of autobiographical memory. Some researchers believe that there
is reason to distinguish flashbulb memories from other types of autobiographical memory because
they rely on elements of personal importance, consequentiality, emotion, and surprise. Others
believe that ordinary memories can also be accurate and long-lasting if they are highly distinctive,
personally significant, or repeatedly rehearsed.
Flashbulb memories have six characteristic features: place, ongoing activity, informant, own effect,
other effect, and aftermath Arguably, the principal determinants of a flashbulb memory are a high
level of surprise, a high level of consequentiality, and perhaps emotional arousal.

The term flashbulb memory was coined by Brown and Kulik in 1977 They formed the special-
mechanism hypothesis, which argues for the existence of a special biological memory mechanism
that, when triggered by an event exceeding critical levels of surprise and consequentiality, creates a
permanent record of the details and circumstances surrounding the experience. Brown and Kulik
believed that although flashbulb memories are permanent they are not always accessible from long
term memory.

It is possible for both positive and negative events to produce flashbulb memories. When the event
is viewed as a positive event, individuals show higher rates of reliving and sensory imagery, also
showed having more live-qualities associated with the event. Individuals view these positive events
as central to their identities and life stories, resulting in more rehearsal of the event, encoding the
memory with more subjective clarity.

Compared to positive flashbulb memories, events seen as negative by a person have demonstrated
having used more detailed- oriented, conservative processing strategies. Negative flashbulb
memories are more highly unpleasant causing a person to avoid reliving the negative event. This
avoidance could possibly lead to a reduction of emotional intense memory. The memory stays intact
in an individual who experiences a negative flashbulb memory but have a more toned down
emotional side. With negative flashbulb memories they are seen to have more consequences.