Today in class we introduced the concept of flashbulb memories. Many of you shared strong emotional memories from your past that you were vividly able to recall. BUT... how accurate were they. Are you sure all the details are just as you remember. When ask to recall how the events of 9/11 unfolded for then President George Bush on 3 separate occasions he reported slightly different stories. Two of them seemed to be completely inaccurate. This led to conspiracy theories about the President's knowledge of the event and complicit in the attack. If you were a good psychologist you might not have jumped to such conclusions and understood the frailty of the human memory.
Read the article as it contains the accounts of President Bush's three independent recollection of the morning on 9/11 and a complete discussion on how we do poorly on recalling specific details of our memories.
I myself can easily relate to this concept of flashbulb memory and its "side effect" of filling in empty gaps. During summer five years ago I was playing on an old swing set. A few minutes in the chains began to twist. Unable to stop due to my high speed an height, I swung into one of the rusty support poles and fell off of my seat. The accident left a huge laceration in my left thigh. Almost every detail of this incident was implanted into my memory (flashbulb memory). Last year I retold the story to a few family members and stated that after I fell, I limped into my house to get my parents. Following my words, my mother stated that I never entered the house. Rather, my brother ran inside to get help. Even though the memory is extremely vivid, not all of the details may be correct.
ReplyDeleteToday, I woke up thinking that it was Sunday. I was correct, but my flashbulb had failed to inform me of the homework I had yet to do.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to flashbulb memories, as I'm sure we all can. It seemed like not too long ago that I was mere 6-year-old in in my Kindergarten class, even more jubilant than usual on account that I was celebrating my birthday. What was thought to be a happy day, however, turned into a traumatic memory as I proudly walked up to the front of the class in my red dress with polka-dots, awaiting the revered "happy birthday song". But instead of singing me the song, the children pointed to my dress and chanted "First is worst, second is best, third is the one with the polka-dot dress" and sneered as I ran back to my desk in shambles. I never was quite able to wear a polka-dot dress ever again.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this does bring up the notion of inaccurate details from a flashbulb memory. I was, of course, in a state of distress after escaping from my fellow bullies, but is it possible that the children did not sneer at all? Perhaps they were not trying to mock me, but merely recite a popular jingle of the time with only an intention to notice my fabulous dress (I was, after all, a very sensitive child back in the day, apt to take offense to the slightest things). It is for this reason that I believe our memories really are fragile things, not meant to be entirely depended on for credible information.
Looking back, flashbulb memories are something that I have experienced without my knowing. As mentioned in the article, one major event I thought I remembered clearly were the events of September 11th. When I would recall how the day played out I thought I had a pretty accurate description. When I really thought about my recollection, I realized that there were a lot of aspects that I wasn't entirely sure of anymore. This showed me that it is pretty easy to forget certain aspects or fill in the memory with what you think happened.
ReplyDeleteFlashbulb memories are something that everyone will experience at some point in their lives. I can recall several events in my life that I remember vividly despite getting some of the details wrong. 9/11 is one of those events that I can still remember very well despite happening more than 11 years ago. I can still recall sitting in my first grade class at Freedom Elementary school and hearing the principal coming on the intercom to tell us that, "something terrible has happened." While some of the details of what I remember may not be 100% accurate, the memory is still vivid and is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ryan. When I think about my flashbulb memories, I'm really only absolutely sure about what was going on during whatever event I am remembering and for a short time after said event occurred. But everything leading up to that event and approximately 5-10 minutes after the event is hazy.
ReplyDeleteI read this article over the weekend as I was doing my questions for homework. I thought it was interesting how he couldn't correctly recall what happened seeing it was such a tragic event. I can still recall my great grandmothers death and events that took place at her funeral even though it was probably ten years ago. Both my sister and I can recall the exact same events because it was a tragic time, so it is weird how the president mixed up how he actually heard the information.
ReplyDeleteI recently experienced a possible inaccurate flashbulb memory like Bush's. My sister, dad and I were discussing how pills are easier to take when they're doused in chocolate syrup or whip cream and I said I remembered my mom doing that for me when I was younger. But my sister and dad said they only recall her doing that when giving the dog pills.
ReplyDeleteI can completely relate to flashbulb memories. Last year I went to a funeral. When I left I suddenly could remember the very first funeral I ever attended. I could remember what my mom wore, where I went before the funeral and my sitting on my moms lap during the funeral. It was weird how I could remember it so well even though it was 13 years later. I think why I can remember it so easily is because it was my very first experience of a funeral. I think when you experience a huge event for the first time, its so much easier to remember it and everything about it even years later
ReplyDeleteI have a flashbulb memory myself. My dog was hit by car in 6th grade. I can recall every moment of what happened.I even remeber it was on a Monday and I had just got done getting ready for school. I remeber the whole conversation with my mom when she explained to me what had happened.My dog really meant a lot to me,that's probably the reason why I remember everything so well.
ReplyDeleteI have many flashbulb memories that come to mind. One particularly vivid one is of the time my family and my uncle's family went down to Folly Beach in South Carolina. I remember being really excited as we walked down to the beach. I was anticipating building the ultimate sand castle with my dad, as it was father's day (I was six years old at the time). But I guess that wasn't what my dad had in mind, because he immediately went boogie boarding with my uncle and older cousins. I was crushed. My own dad didn't want to build a sandcastle with me on father's day. Of course I threw a fit, and cried and whatnot. When I finally confronted him about it ten years later, he claims that he did so build a sandcastle with me. Maybe my memory has gaps in it like the article says. I'm not sure whether I believe him or not.
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