ABSTRACT

Are Flashbulb memories special or ordinary memory formations? Are emotional, cognitive, or social factors highly relevant for the formation of Flashbulb memories? How can sociological, historical, and cultural issues help us to understand the process? What is the difference between Flashbulb memories, memories of traumatic experiences, and highly vivid personal memories? How can we provide a valid and reliable measure for Flashbulb memories?

This edition of Flashbulb Memories: New Challenges and Future Perspectives revisits these questions, considering significant new evidence and research in the field. It now includes additional chapters focusing on experimental investigations, and review studies on positive vs. negative Flashbulb memories.

Bringing together leading international researchers, the book presents significant progress in this area of research, which has remained divisive for the past 40 years. The discussion of Flashbulb memories also contributes to the understanding of the general functioning of autobiographical memory. It will provide essential reading for researchers in Flashbulb memories and will be of great interest to those in related areas such as cognitive psychology, social psychology, cross-cultural psychology, sociology, political sciences, and history, as well as clinicians dealing with those who have strong Flashbulb memories after personal traumatic events.

chapter |10 pages

Introduction

How research on Flashbulb memories has developed in the last ten years

chapter 6|18 pages

When a flash is caught in a lab

An experimental approach to the investigation of Flashbulb memories

chapter 11|21 pages

Flashbulb memories and collective memories

Psychosocial processes related to rituals, emotions, and memories

chapter 12|23 pages

Culture in Flashbulb memory

chapter 13|9 pages

The study of Flashbulb memories

The good, the bad, and the way forward