Age and cohort differences in flashbulb memory

Author

Jenny Denver, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Periodical Title

Modern Psychological Studies

Volume

11

Number

1

Page Numbers

pages 36-55

Department

Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Date

2005

Abstract

Current research in autobiographical memory gives evidence of both a retention effect and a "reminiscence bump," as well as evidence of an agerelated decline in older adults' ability to vividly recall certain memories. The present study investigated the existence of an age-related decline and the reminiscence bump in flashbulb memories, which Brown and Kutik (1977) describe as detailed, vivid, and persistent memories for unexpected, emotional events. Participants from three age groups (n=220) were questioned about three potential flashbulb memory events (9 / 11, JFK's assassination, and Pearl Harbor). Younger adults had lengthier free recall accounts for 9/11 than middle-aged and older adults, although those groups rated their memories for 9/11 as more vivid, accurate, and clear than did the younger adults. Comparing across events for the older adults, memories of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor were equally elaborate, but JFK memories were less elaborate; furthermore, older adults rated their memories of Pearl Harbor and JFK as less vivid and clear than their 9/11 memories. These findings only partially support the reminiscence bump, retention effect, and aging decline hypotheses.

Subject

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Document Type

article

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

20 leaves

Language

English

Call Number

BF1 .M63 v. 11 no. 1 2005

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Recommended Citation

Denver, Jenny (2005) "Age and cohort differences in flashbulb memory," Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 11: No. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol11/iss1/6