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Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors
Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
  • Alex Cuc, Nova Southeastern University
  • Wiliam Hirst, New School for Social Research
  • Randy L. Buckner, Harvard University
  • Marcia K. Johnson, Yale University
  • Keith B. Lyle, University of Louisville
  • Robert Meksin, New School for Social Research
  • Kevin N. Ochsner, Columbia University
  • Jon S. Simons, Cambridge University
  • Elizabeth A. Phelps, New York University
  • Andrew E. Budson, Boston University School of Medicine
  • John D. E. Gabrieli, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Cindy Lustig, University of Michigan
  • Mara Mather, University of Southern California
  • Karen J. Mitchell, Yale University
  • Daniel L. Schacter, Harvard University
  • Chandan J. Vaidya, Georgetown University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2009
Disciplines
Abstract/Excerpt

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.

DOI
10.1037/a0015527
Citation Information
Alex Cuc, Wiliam Hirst, Randy L. Buckner, Marcia K. Johnson, et al.. "Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors" Journal of Experimental Psychology: General Vol. 138 Iss. 2 (2009) p. 161 - 176 ISSN: 0096-3445
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/alexandru-cuc/16/