Emotion and Cognition (Brown & Kulik and Mcgaugh and Cahill)

Question 1

Introduction (Memory is a cognitive process used to encode, store and retrieve information. One theory of how emotion…)
FBM, VIVID, EMOTION/PERSONAL RELEVANCE

Answer 1

One theory of how emotion affects one cognitive process is the Flashbulb Memory Theory by Brown and Kulik. Researchers believe that flashbulb memories - vivid memories that can be remembered as detailed as a photograph - are created due to a very surprising or emotionally significant reaction to the event/personal relevance.

Question 2

What are the 2 key components of forming a FBM?

Answer 2

1. Surprise -> rehearsal of info both overtly and covertly

2. Personal relationship to event

Question 3

Special-mechanism hypothesis

BIO MEMORY MECHANISM, EMOTION, ENVIRONMENT

Answer 3

The special-mechanism hypothesis of Brown and Kulik suggests that the flashbulb memories have a specific biological memory mechanism that are different to ordinary memory (these vivid and detailed memories are formed through emotional reactions and environment the person was in) - In addition, Brown & Kulik postulated the special-mechanism hypothesis, where a special neural mechanism triggers emotional arousal when an individual encounters significant, often unexpected emotional events or experiences that have exceeded levels of surprise and emotion.

Question 4

Aim of Brown & Kulik

Answer 4

To investigate whether emotionally/personally significant events has an effect on flashbulb memories

Question 5

Procedure of Brown & Kulik

Answer 5

Sample of 40 AA and 40 WA to fill in a questionnaire on deaths of famous public figures (MLK, JFK), as well as personal relationship

Questions included:
“Where were you when you heard about the event?”
“Who was with you?”
“How did you feel…?” (Emotion)
“How important…?” (Personal relevance)
“How often do you talk about this event?” (Rehearsal)

Question 6

Findings of Brown & Kulik

Answer 6

90% of participants gave detailed counts, most people had detailed for loved ones

Difference between memories of assassinations based on how relevant they were (75% of AA remembered MLK’s death, only 33% of WAs could)

Question 7

How does Brown & Kulik link to emotion and cognition?

Answer 7

Shows how personal relevance and more emotionally arousing events results in more vivid memories

Question 8

Strengths of Brown & Kulik

Answer 8

First study to empirically examine flashbulb memories and has opened the possibilities to more research

Question 9

Limitations of Brown & Kulik

Answer 9

1. Impossible to verify the accuracy (retrospective) could only assume from what they were told, or the amount of rehearsal that was occurred
2. We cannot measure the intensity of emotion experienced

Question 10

Aim of Mcgaugh and Cahill

Answer 10

To study the role of emotion on the creation of memories.

Question 11

Procedure of Mcgaugh and Cahill

Answer 11

• Participants were divided into two groups.
• Each group saw 12 slides accompanied by 2 diff stories.
• In the first condition, the participant heard a boring story about a woman and her son who paid a visit to the son’s father in a hospital where they witnessed a simulated accident victim.
• In the second condition the participant heard a story where the boy was involved in a car accident where his feet were severed - reattaching limbs
• Two weeks after participating in the experiment the participants were asked to come back and their memory for specific details of the story were tested. The test was a recognition task that consisted of a series of questions about the slides with three options for them to choose from.

Question 12

Findings of Mcgaugh and Cahill

Answer 12

In the original version of the experiment the researchers found that the participants who had heard the more emotionally arousing story demonstrated better recall of specific details of the story. They could also recall more details.

Question 13

How does Mcgaugh and Cahill link to emotion and cognition?

Answer 13

Cause and effect r/s

Question 14

Strengths of Mcgaugh and Cahill

Answer 14

• Standardized procedure
• Cause and Effect
• Research been applied to treatment of accident victims to prevent PTSD.

Question 15

Limitations of Mcgaugh and Cahill

Answer 15

• Highly artificial.
• As the recognition task only had three options, it is possible that this is not a valid test of memory
• Impossible to verify the measure of emotion
• No support for biological mechanisms

Question 16

Conclusion of emotion and cognition (Both studies present FBMs to be formed due to…)

Answer 16

Both studies present FBMs to be formed due to a highly emotional reaction to a certain event, or a form of personal connection to the event. FBMs may also be affected by culture or the surroundings of the individual, as Kulfosky’s study demonstrated this through a cross-cultural study and how important expressing emotion was in a certain culture could either increase or lower the potential for an individual to hold a FBM. Although, we cannot deem a FBM to be accurate because researchers cannot test level of surprise or the validity of certain memories. However, due to how the participants in both studies could recall personally significant memories in high levels of detail, we can say that FBM are vivid memories because they are talked about more - we can link emotion to certain memories that stand out to us.