Unexpected positive events do not result in flashbulb memories

The study of flashbulb memories has typically been confined to negative events such as the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Previous studies that investigated the role of affect on memory formation have produced conflicting results, making it difficult to ascertain the properties of positive flashbulb memories. In the current study, we employ previously established methods to investigate flashbulb memory formation for the assassination of Osama bin Laden. This resonated as a highly positive event for many Americans evidenced by the thousands of people flooding the streets of Washington, D.C., and New York City to celebrate. Results confirm the fading of memory details over time and further suggest that positive events do not result in the heightened vividness and confidence seen in negatively valenced flashbulb memories. We argue that these findings are additional evidence against a special memory mechanism in flashbulb memory formation.

Title	Unexpected positive events do not result in flashbulb memories
Creator	Kraha, A.
	Boals, A.
	Talarico, Jennifer M.
Publisher	Applied Cognitive Psychology
Academic Department	Psychology
Division	Social Sciences
Organization	Lafayette College
Date Issued	2014
Date Available	2016-07-05T14:33:57Z
Type	Article
Language	English
Bibliographic Citation	Kraha, A., J. M. Talarico, and A. Boals (2014) "Unexpected positive events do not result in flashbulb memories." Applied Cognitive Psychology 28 (4): 579–589.
Standard Identifier	DOI 10.1002/acp.3039
Standard Identifier	Handle 10385/2127
Permalink	http://hdl.handle.net/10385/2127
Rights Statement	In Copyright
Rights Holders	John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.