ABSTRACT
This chapter examines whether Flashbulb memories (FBMs) are indeed a community phenomenon and how community efforts might guide the formation of collective memories of flashbulb events. As it appears to be used in the literature, a memory is treated as an FBM only if most members of a community report that they have a memory of the circumstances in which they learned of a public, emotionally charged event, such as the Brussels airport attack in March 2016. Like ordinary autobiographical memories FBMs can be inaccurate. High level of confidence has become a defining characteristic of FBMs. The chapter explores the ways in which social memory artifacts and practices affect the event memories associated with flashbulb events. When considering social practices, media coverage is of particular interest. Inasmuch as FBMs often involve public, emotionally charged events of national importance, the media usually provide extensive coverage of the precipitating event, at least initially.
