- Cognition and emotion are bidirectionally linked.
- Cognitive processes, such as memory, are influenced by emotion, and emotional responses are shaped by how we interpret and evaluate situations.
- Emotion can enhance or hinder memory reliability.
- For example, emotionally arousing events may trigger stronger memory consolidation through mechanisms such as flashbulb memories or hormonal effects like cortisol release.
- Emotion-related changes in cognition may serve evolutionary purposes.
- For example, emotion can improve survival through better recall of dangerous or rewarding situations.
Flashbulb Memories
Definition
Flashbulb Memory
A vivid, detailed memory of an emotionally significant event, often remembered with high confidence but not always with complete accuracy.
- Two mechanisms of flashbulb memory:
- Formation: Requires surprise and personal consequentiality to trigger emotional arousal, leading to a detailed and vivid memory imprint.
- Maintenance: Achieved through overt rehearsal (discussing the event) and covert rehearsal (mentally replaying the event).
Key Studies
Case studyBrown & Kulik, 1977
Aim: To investigate the factors influencing the formation and maintenance of flashbulb memories related to significant events.
Method
- Correlational study with elements of a quasi-experiment.
- Participants completed a questionnaire about 10 events (nine public, one personal).
Participants: 40 White Americans and 40 Black Americans, aged 20–60.
Procedure
- Participants wrote a free recall of the circumstances surrounding their learning of the events.
- Rated each event's personal consequentiality and frequency of overt rehearsal on a 5-point scale.
Results
- Black participants showed more vivid memories of events involving civil rights leaders (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr.) due to higher personal consequentiality.
- Across groups, vividness correlated with both personal consequentiality and overt rehearsal.
Conclusion
The findings support the roles of surprise and personal consequentiality in the formation of flashbulb memories and the role of rehearsal in maintaining their vividness.
