Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors

  • Wiliam Hirst
  • , Randy L. Buckner
  • , Marcia K. Johnson
  • , Keith B. Lyle
  • , Robert Meksin
  • , Kevin N. Ochsner
  • , Jon S. Simons
  • , Elizabeth A. Phelps
  • , Andrew E. Budson
  • , John D. E. Gabrieli
  • , Cindy Lustig
  • , Mara Mather
  • , Karen J. Mitchell
  • , Daniel L. Schacter
  • , Chandan J. Vaidya
  • , Alexandru Cuc

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

More than 3,000 individuals from 7 U.S. cities reported on their memories of learning of the terrorist attacks of September 11, as well as details about the attack, 1 week, 11 months, and/or 35 months after the assault. Some studies of flashbulb memories examining long-term retention show slowing in the rate of forgetting after a year, whereas others demonstrate accelerated forgetting. This article indicates that (a) the rate of forgetting for flashbulb memories and event memory (memory for details about the event itself) slows after a year, (b) the strong emotional reactions elicited by flashbulb events are remembered poorly, worse than nonemotional features such as where and from whom one learned of the attack, and (c) the content of flashbulb and event memories stabilizes after a year. The results are discussed in terms of community memory practices.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)161-176
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology: General
Volume138
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2009

Bibliographical note

(c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Mental HealthR01MH066972

    ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

    • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
    • General Psychology
    • Developmental Neuroscience

    Keywords

    • Data Collection
    • Emotions
    • Feedback
    • Follow-Up Studies
    • Mental Recall
    • Perceptual Distortion
    • Reality Testing
    • Retention
    • September 11 Terrorist Attacks
    • flashbulb memories
    • long-term retention
    • event memory
    • emotional memory
    • memory practices

    Disciplines

    • Psychology

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