Concept · Cognitive Bias: Memory biases and distortions
Flashbulb memory
Origin: Brown & Kulik, 1977
Biological Parallel
Animals remember exact circumstances of life-threatening events—where they were when the predator appeared, weather conditions, nearby landmarks. Flashbulb memories form when arousal systems tag experiences as 'pattern-break requiring permanent storage' through stress hormone release. This is adaptive crisis documentation: remembering contextual details of extreme events helps organisms recognize early warning signs, even though the memories feel more accurate than they actually are.