TY - JOUR
T1 - Class, race, and the face
T2 - Social context modulates the cross-race effect in face recognition
AU - Shriver, Edwin R.
AU - Young, Steven G.
AU - Hugenberg, Kurt
AU - Bernstein, Michael J.
AU - Lanter, Jason R.
PY - 2008/2
Y1 - 2008/2
N2 - The current research investigates the hypothesis that the well-established cross-race effect (CRE; better recognition for same-race than for cross-race faces) is due to social-cognitive mechanisms rather than to differential perceptual expertise with same-race and cross-race faces. Across three experiments, the social context in which faces are presented has a direct influence on the CRE. In the first two experiments, middle-class White perceivers show superior recognition for same-race White faces presented in wealthy but not in impoverished contexts. The second experiment indicates this effect is due to the tendency to categorize White faces in impoverished contexts as outgroup members (e.g., "poor Whites"). In the third experiment, this effect is replicated using different ingroup and outgroup categorizations (university affiliation), with ingroup White faces being recognized better than outgroup White faces. In line with a social-cognitive model of the CRE, context had no influence on recognition for cross-race Black faces across the three experiments.
AB - The current research investigates the hypothesis that the well-established cross-race effect (CRE; better recognition for same-race than for cross-race faces) is due to social-cognitive mechanisms rather than to differential perceptual expertise with same-race and cross-race faces. Across three experiments, the social context in which faces are presented has a direct influence on the CRE. In the first two experiments, middle-class White perceivers show superior recognition for same-race White faces presented in wealthy but not in impoverished contexts. The second experiment indicates this effect is due to the tendency to categorize White faces in impoverished contexts as outgroup members (e.g., "poor Whites"). In the third experiment, this effect is replicated using different ingroup and outgroup categorizations (university affiliation), with ingroup White faces being recognized better than outgroup White faces. In line with a social-cognitive model of the CRE, context had no influence on recognition for cross-race Black faces across the three experiments.
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U2 - 10.1177/0146167207310455
DO - 10.1177/0146167207310455
M3 - Article
C2 - 18212334
AN - SCOPUS:38349081667
SN - 0146-1672
VL - 34
SP - 260
EP - 274
JO - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
JF - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
IS - 2
ER -