Emotion and Memory

Question 1

What is a flashbulb memory?

Answer 1

• Highly detailed, vivid “snapshot” of the moment when a surprising and emotionally arousing event happened
  
  • Resistant to forgetting
  • special neural mechanism that triggers emotional arousal because the event is unexpected or extremely important
  • Implies flashbulb memories have different characteristics than “ordinary memories.”
  • the most commonly accepted model of flashbulb memory is called the importance-driven model. This model emphasizes that personal consequences determine the intensity of emotional reactions.

Question 2

Aim of Neisser and Harsch

Answer 2

To test the theory of FBM through investigating the accuracy of a memory from shocking event (challenger disaster) after a period of time

Question 3

Method of Neisser and Harsch

Answer 3

106 students from an introductory psychology class participated in the study. They were asked to report on their circumstances of when the heard about the challenger space disaster. They reported twice, the first time 24 hours after the disaster and the second time 2 1/2 years later.

Question 4

Method of Neisser and Harsch

Answer 4

106 students from an introductory psychology class participated in the study. They were asked to report on their circumstances of when the heard about the challenger space disaster. They reported twice, the first time 24 hours after the disaster and the second time 2 1/2 years later.

Question 5

Findings of Neisser and Harsch

Answer 5

One day after 21% said they learned of the disaster via TV, this rose to 45% the second time they reported, showing that their memory of how they learned of the event changed over time. Assuming that their memory was accurate the first time they reported, it could be concluded that their memory of the event deteriorated during the 2 1/2 years.

Question 6

Conclusion of Neisser and Harsch

Answer 6

Therefore suggesting that FBM is not reliable as it can be affected by post-event information.
Neisser and Harsch claim that such findings suggest that FBMs may just be ordinary memories.
even though people are confident in the accuracy of their FBM, inaccuracy of emotional memories is common.