ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates evidence for veridical, phenomenological, and metacognitive features that have been proposed to differentiate Flashbulb memories (FBMs) from ordinary autobiographical memories. It defines ordinary autobiographical memories (AMs) as easy-to-access memories that are brought to mind by a request for a particular kind of memory. Denver, Lane, and Cherry provide converging evidence for the objective longevity of FBMs without a relative superiority to ordinary AMs. FBM consistency has been shown to correlate with performance on the autobiographical Implicit Association Test (aIAT), itself a correlate of accuracy. Characteristics of how an individual processes the event at encoding and during rehearsal/retrieval are thought to be important determinants of FBMs. Encoding factors are closely tied to event features: distinctiveness with surprise, emotional affect with emotional intensity, and consequentiality with significance. The effects of rehearsal on FBM seem to dissociate based on the dependent variable of interest. Increased rehearsal has been correlated with the formation of FBMs.
