ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes that a person's social identity is a key factor for the development and maintenance of Flashbulb memories (FBMs). Social identity, rather than personal relevance, is central for the formation and maintenance of FBMs for public events. The notion of FBMs was introduced by Brown and Kulik. The activation of social identity may lead to an emotional reaction formed by either the individual's subjective appraisal of the relevance of the event or by contagion when observing the reaction of others. The emotional salience as well as the social relevance of the FBM may lead to increased rehearsal, both individually and in public. Brown and Kulik found substantially more FBMs among African Americans as compared to white Americans for the news of the assassination of some political leaders engaged with questions of civil rights. These group differences on FBM prevalence were matched by higher ratings of consequentiality among African Americans for the same events.
