On December 23, 1972, one of the most memorable games in the history of the National Football League took place at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Steelers were facing the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game. The score was 7–6 in favor of the Raiders; then something extraordinary happened. Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw dropped back to pass with thirteen seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The intended recipient was Frenchy Fequa. Fequa collided with one of the Raiders' safeties and the ball was deflected. Steeler running back Franco Harris saved the ball before it hit the ground and ran 60 yards for a Steeler touchdown and earned the Steeler a spot in the Super Bowl. If you asked any Steeler fan where they were when the "immaculate reception" took place, they would probably be able to tell you exactly where they were and who they were with. This is an example of the psychological phenomenon of flash memory. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Flash memory is a clear memory of a significant moment or event. I think flashbulb memories occur because the events that happen are often unpredictable. Because they were so unexpected and evoke so many different emotions, it seems that our surroundings are permanently imprinted in our memory. We remember exactly who we were with, what we were wearing, our initial reaction, the words spoken by friends, and even the smells associated with the environment. Flash memory is still a subject of debate among some of the smartest neuropsychologists today. The debate centers on whether these memories are encoded in the brain. From a cursory overview of some Internet sites and book reviews, it appears that the evidence is split down the middle for and against the coding view. Although these neuropsychologists still debate the relevance of their findings, one fact remains true: we all have flashbulb memories. To further illustrate this psychological concept, I will share some of my unique experiences that have been permanently imprinted in my mind. It was mid-June and I was still at school. The teachers at our school went on strike for thirty days and were forced back to work through binding arbitration. This meant for the students that we would remain in school until June 30th. Then, one hot summer afternoon, word spread. Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were murdered. I was in my seventh grade English class; my teacher was Mrs. Biega. I was sitting in the row closest to the blackboard in the second seat when she came back into the room and turned on the television. We sat and watched the latest news as journalists gave their interpretation of events. Preliminary reports indicated that football star OJ Simpson was the number one suspect. I couldn't believe it. One of my favorite football players has been charged with murder. My hero, how could it be? As I talked to my classmates, I remember my emotions. I was shocked, scared and nervous. That day, when class ended, I went home, only to stay glued to the television. Watching NBC, I remember seeing the LAPD chasing a white Ford Bronco driven by OJ Simpson. I remember the police arresting OJ and all the events that followed. The process was long. It lasted until the fall semester of my freshman year of high school. The events that occurred between the time of the murders and the verdict are distorted. If I were asked to remember the details of the trial, my answers would probably?
tags