Towards a synthetic model of own group biases in face memory

Abstract

In the current work, we extend the Categorization-Individuation Model (Hugenberg, Young, Bernstein, & Sacco, 2010)—an existing model of the own race bias—to organize and explain the proliferation of own group biases in face memory. In this model, we propose that own group biases result from the coacting processes of social categorization,motivation to individuate, and individuation experience. This extended Categorization-Individuation Model affords a number of benefits. First, this model allows us to begin to consider various own group biases as manifestations a single class of phenomena, offering sensible predictions across and among biases. Further, this extended Categorization-Individuation Model makes novel predictions for how own group biases can be exacerbated and eliminated by both perceptual and motivational processes, allowing for potentially novel interventions forown group biases. Finally,we discuss a variety of open questions with regard to an extended Categorization-Individuation Model, with an eye towards framing future research questions.

Keywords:

• Own group bias
• Face perception
• Motivation

This work was supported by NSF grant BCS-0951463, awarded to KH.

This work was supported by NSF grant BCS-0951463, awarded to KH.

Notes

¹ The own race bias has been known by various terms in the literature (and in our own work), including the own race effect, the other race effect, the cross race effect, and the cross race recognition deficit. All such monikers refer to the tendency to have superior face memory for members of racial ingroups than racial outgroups.

² The authors wish to thank both the editor and the anonymous reviewers for this point.