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Brown and Kulik

Brown and Kulik (1977)

Research on Flashbulb Memory

Aim:

 To investigate whether shocking events are recalled more vividly and accurately than other events.

Procedure:

 Questionnaires asked 80 participants to recall circumstances where they had learned of shocking events

Results:

  • The participants had vivid memories of where they were, what they did, and what they felt when they first heard about a shocking public event such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
  • The participants also said they had flashbulb memories of shocking personal events such as the sudden death of a relative.
  • The results indicated that FM is more likely for unexpected and personally relevant events. The researchers suggested ‘the photographic model of flashbulb memory’.
  • Brown and Kulik suggest that FM is caused by the physiological emotional arousal (e.g. activity in the amygdala).

Evaluation:

The reliance on retrospective data questions the reliability of this study. People tend to interpret an event from their current perspective. Research indicates that although an FM is emotionally vivid it is not necessarily accurate in regard to details. The photographic model of FM has been challenged.