Talk:flashback

Proposed alteration to (improvement of) meaning 2
I propose that "a vivid mental image of a past trauma, especially one that recurs"
 * Meaning 2 (psychology)

be altered to something more like:


 * "an unintentional, often overwhelming and usually unpleasant mental and/or bodily re-experiencing, after the event, of any number of possible sensory phenomena resulting from and related to an experience of trauma."

Rationale:

'mental image' implies something exclusively visual, whereas flashbacks can range across the whole spectrum of sensory experiences (taste, smell, touch, sound, as well as sight). Also, it implies that the experience takes place in the head, whereas sensations can be experienced in any part of the body.

'vivid' - both the initial trauma(s) and the ensuing flashbacks are, due to their very nature, strongly characterised by confusion and turmoil. 'Vivid' implies clarity. (Presumably the initial use of 'vivid' was meant in the sense of 'strong' or even 'overwhelming', which would both be applicable.)--Tyranny Sue 03:14, 6 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Sounds like a psychology textbook! ( -- and it is not bodily in the normal sense.) See the discussion in the tea room. Also, we have the link to Wikipedia for those who want to know more.    D b f  i  r  s   07:13, 9 April 2009 (UTC)