What´s Flashbulb Memory Special?
As defined by both debate groups, a flashbulb memory is a memory that is both shocking and creates an emotionally charged state to the point where the memory is remembered more accurately and clearly. Both debate groups did an excellent job trying to defend the positions they were given. However, after hearing both sides of the debate, I came to the conclusion that flashbulb memories are not special. The studies given for the flashbulb memories are not special debate group provided solid evidence towards flashbulb memories being very similar to normal memories in terms of rate of decay and consistency. In the first study presented, testing 54 Duke undergraduate students, it was found that both average memories and so called flashbulb memories declined at similar rates, and furthermore the consistency of their memories also faltered. In the study of downtown
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When the Reagan assassination attempt study was brought up, it was said that 85 percent of subjects could recall where they were 7 months after the incident. I would have liked to see more statistics regarding how the participants remembered being told and what they remember specifically about the incident, because those characteristics better classify the definition of a flashbulb memory. In their Challenger explosion study, it was said that participants who rated themselves as being more confident remembered more after specific probes. This too poses a problem in my opinion, as being probed to specific questions can trigger memories that participants wouldn't have necessarily remembered in free recall. If someone were to ask me what I was wearing yesterday and I didn't remember, they could ask me if I was wearing a t-shirt, and that could jog my memory and cause me to remember. To me, having to probe someone’s memory doesn't classify as a memory remembered more accurately and clearly, which is the definition of a flashbulb
When the Reagan assassination attempt study was brought up, it was said that 85 percent of subjects could recall where they were 7 months after the incident. I would have liked to see more statistics regarding how the participants remembered being told and what they remember specifically about the incident, because those characteristics better classify the definition of a flashbulb memory. In their Challenger explosion study, it was said that participants who rated themselves as being more confident remembered more after specific probes. This too poses a problem in my opinion, as being probed to specific questions can trigger memories that participants wouldn't have necessarily remembered in free recall. If someone were to ask me what I was wearing yesterday and I didn't remember, they could ask me if I was wearing a t-shirt, and that could jog my memory and cause me to remember. To me, having to probe someone’s memory doesn't classify as a memory remembered more accurately and clearly, which is the definition of a flashbulb