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The Relationship between Emotion and Flashbulb Memory in Young and Elderly People: The case of President Roh's Death and North Korea Nuclear Test

The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology / The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, (P)1226-9654; (E)2733-466X
2010, v.22 no.2, pp.177-196
https://doi.org/10.22172/cogbio.2010.22.2.004


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Abstract

Memories and emotional responses were collected from Korean young and elderly people one week, three months, and six months after Korean President Roh's sudden death and North Korea nuclear test that occurred at about the same time. President Roh's death had greater emotional impact than North Korea's nuclear test for both young and elderly people. The latter group experienced more intense emotions to both events and still had lingering emotions about President Roh's death six months later. However, the two groups showed no difference in recall of episodic details about the two events, while both groups recalled more about President Roh's death. Flashbulb memories of President Roh's death decreased at first but not after three months, whereas flashbulb memories of North Korea nuclear test decreased steadily as time passed. These results show that emotional intensity is a critical factor in flashbulb memory and emotional functions of elderly people are not weakened. Although elderly people had experienced decline in cognitive functions, they recalled episodic details of the flashbulb events not less than young people. This result indicates that relatively well-functioning emotional processes could complement cognitive weakness related to old age. Changes of vividness, confidence, emotional and visceral reactions are also surveyed. Some results conflicting with previous studies on flashbulb memory were also discussed.

keywords
섬광기억, 정서강도, 연령차, 생생함, 확신도, flashbulb memory, emotional memory, age group, elderly people

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The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology