Final answer:
Flashbulb memories are highly detailed memories of significant events, but they can become less accurate over time and are subject to misinformation effects, especially as they are reconstructed during recall.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to research on flashbulb memories, they are highly detailed and vivid memories of significant events that people often remember with great clarity. These memories are typically associated with surprising, consequential, and emotional events. Despite their vividness, flashbulb memories are not immune to inaccuracies. Over time, these memories can become less accurate and may be susceptible to the misinformation effect, where after exposure to misleading information, one's memory of an event can be altered. President George W. Bush's varying accounts of how he learned about the 9/11 attacks is an example of how flashbulb memories can be inconsistent.
Flashbulb memories can also be biased by one's emotions and worldview. These biases illustrate that memory is reconstructive and is affected by numerous factors, including emotion. Schacter's research has identified bias as one of the distortions that can impact our memories. On the other hand, researchers Brown and Kulik, who initially defined the concept of flashbulb memories, and later researchers such as Hirst and Phelps, support the idea that these memories do not necessarily require a widely shared event to form, as even individuals can experience flashbulb memories for significant personal events.