At face value: Psychological outcomes differ for real vs. computer-generated multiracial faces

ABSTRACT

Multiracial research emphasizes hypodescent categorizations and relies on computer-generated stimuli. Four experiments showed that real biracial faces in a 2-Choice categorization task (White, Black) elicited hypodescent more than computer-generated faces. Additionally, Experiment 2 showed a 2-Choice categorization task with real biracial faces increased racial essentialism more than a 3-Choice categorization task. Experiment 3 showed that mere exposure to real biracial faces did not increase essentialism. Finally, Experiments 4a and 4b replicated hypodescent outcomes when comparing real biracial faces to computer-generated versions of those same faces. In sum, these findings initiate a discussion surrounding the methodology of multiracial categorizations.

KEYWORDS:

• Computer-generated faces
• hypodescent
• multiracial categorization
• racial essentialism
• real biracial faces

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Data availability statement

The data described in this article are openly available in the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/xefc4/

Open Scholarship

This article has earned the Center for Open science badges for Open Data. The data and materials are openly accessible at https://osf.io/xefc4/

Notes

1. We conducted all analyses in the manuscript using race (White vs. non-White) as a covariate, and the results yielded the same significance-levels with one exception: the main effect of categorization task in this study became marginally significant, p = .05.

2. Nine participants did not complete essentialism questions and were omitted from analysis.

3. Specific stimuli effects within each condition for the 2-Choice conditions on hypodescent were tested. We conducted a 2 (Stimuli Type) × 20 (Target Face) mixed-model ANOVA with the latter factor within-subjects on categorizations (1 = Black, 0 = White). In all instances, the main effect of stimuli type remained significant and in the expected direction, showing that on average participants engaged in hypodescent more for real faces compared to computer-generated faces (Exps 1–3) or computer-generated versions of the same real faces (Exps 4a, 4b). These results support the main effects that real biracial faces elicited higher levels of hypodescent. Study 1—Stimuli Type effect, p = .04; Study 2—Stimuli Type effect, p < .001; Study 3—Stimuli Type effect, p = .04; Study 4a—Stimuli Type effect, p < .001; Study 4b—Stimuli Type effect, p < .001.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ford Foundation [Dissertation Fellowship];National Science Foundation [Graduate Research Fellowship];Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues [Clara Mayo Award];University of California, Davis [Chancellor’s Post-doctoral Fellowship];University of Chicago [Provost’s Postdoctoral Scholarship].

Notes on contributors

Sarah E Gaither

Sarah Gaither is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. She is also a faculty affiliate at the Cook Center on Social Equity and the Center on Health and Society. Her research focuses on the role identities and diversity exposure play in shaping our behavior and attitudes.

Jacqueline M Chen

Jacqueline Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah. Her research examines how an individual's psychology is shaped by his or her social group memberships.

Kristin Pauker

Kristin Pauker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her work explores how a person’s immediate environment and culturally-shaped theories about race impact basic social perception, social interactions, and stereotyping in childhood and throughout development.

Samuel R Sommers

Samuel Sommers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Tufts University. His research investigates issues related to stereotyping, prejudice, and group diversity.