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Cited by 638Memory Processes and InfluencesIdentity, Memory, and TherapyPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Confidence, Not Consistency, Characterizes Flashbulb Memories

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Talarico, Jennifer M., Rubin, David C.·2003·Psychological Science
DOI 10.1111/1467-9280.02453
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Abstract

On September 12, 2001, 54 Duke students recorded their memory of first hearing about the terrorist attacks of September 11 and of a recent everyday event. They were tested again either 1, 6, or 32 weeks later. Consistency for the flashbulb and everyday memories did not differ, in both cases declining over time. However, ratings of vividness, recollection, and belief in the accuracy of memory declined only for everyday memories. Initial visceral emotion ratings correlated with later belief in accuracy, but not consistency, for flashbulb memories. Initial visceral emotion ratings predicted later posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Flashbulb memories are not special in their accuracy, as previously claimed, but only in their perceived accuracy.

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  • Other articles have emphasized that flashbulb memories may show evidence of inconsistency and are not always more consistent than non-flashbulb memories.

    “Other articles, however, have emphasized that flashbulb memories may show evidence of inconsistency and are not always more consistent than non-flashbulb memories (Larsen, 1992; Neisser & Harsch, 1992; Talarico & Rubin, 2003; Talarico & Rubin, 2007).”

    From Episodic memory, perceptual memory, and their interaction: Foundations for a theory of posttraumatic stress disorder. (2014) · cites this paper as Talarico & Rubin, 2003

  • If amygdala enhancement occurs while the hippocampus is in the stress-induced inhibitory period (phase 2), hippocampal impairment could compromise the accuracy of details of the emotional memory despite high confidence.

    “However, if the enhancement of the amygdala processing occurs at a time when the hippocampus is in the stress-induced inhibitory period (Figure 3, phase 2), then the stress-induced impairment of hippocampal functioning could compromise the accuracy of the details of the emotional memory, despite an individual's great confidence in its veracity (Talarico and Rubin [443]; Wolters and Goudsmit [444];”

    From The Temporal Dynamics Model of Emotional Memory Processing: A Synthesis on the Neurobiological Basis of Stress-Induced Amnesia, Flashbulb and Traumatic Memories, and the Yerkes-Dodson Law (2007) · cites this paper as Talarico and Rubin [443]

  • Flashbulb memories are usually recalled with a higher degree of confidence than other memories of equal age, even when individuals are confronted with evidence that the event in memory could not have occurred as it is remembered.

    “Flashbulb memories are usually recalled with a higher degree of confidence than other memories of equal age (Brown & Kulik, 1977;Talarico & Rubin, 2003), even when individuals are confronted with evidence that the event in memory could not have occurred as it is remembered (Neisser & Harsch, 1992).”

    From Emotional Intensity Predicts Autobiographical Memory Experience (2004) · cites this paper as Talarico & Rubin, 2003

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Authors
Talarico, J. M., & Rubin, D. C.
Affiliations
Duke University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Science
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2003-09
Volume
14
Issue
5
Pages
455-461
ISSN
  • 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9280
DOI
10.1111/1467-9280.02453
OpenAlex
W2142793738
Cited by
638
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 36
FWCI
8.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DukeSpace (Duke University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords
flashbulb memory, memory confidence, memory consistency, vividness, recollection, post-traumatic stress disorder, September 11 attacks, everyday memory
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aircraft, Emotions, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, New York City, Mental Recall, Retention, Psychology, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Terrorism

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