Final answer:
A false 'flashbulb memory' is an inaccurately remembered vivid memory of a significant event, subject to distortion and reconstruction over time. Even events such as the 9/11 attacks can be misremembered, as demonstrated by President Bush's inconsistent recollections. Extensive research by Elizabeth Loftus underscores the susceptibility of memory to the misinformation effect, resulting in false memories.
Step-by-step explanation:
A false 'flashbulb memory' is a vivid but inaccurate recollection of an important event. Like other memories, flashbulb memories can be subject to decay and distortion over time. Even flashbulb memories of highly significant, emotional events, such as where one was during the 9/11 attacks, can become erroneous, as shown in President George W. Bush's varying accounts of how he learned about the attacks. This instance illustrates the malleable nature of human memory and how the reconstruction process can introduce inaccuracies, leading to a false memory.
Cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus has extensively studied false memories and how subsequent misinformation can lead to a phenomenon known as the misinformation effect, where original memories are altered post-event. This research emphasizes that memory reconstruction is prone to error, and that memories for events without independent witnesses—such as personal experiences or traumatic events—can be particularly susceptible to becoming false memories.