The importance of out-group characteristics for the own-group face memory bias

ABSTRACT

The own-group bias (OGB) in face recognition refers to the finding that in-group faces are recognized with greater accuracy than out-group faces. Current literature emphasizes the importance of in-group characteristics for the OGB. Across two experiments we explored the importance of both in-group and out-group characteristics. Using an old/new task, Experiment 1 categorized faces by university membership and found no evidence of the OGB or a relationship between the OGB and attitudes towards the in-group. Experiment 2 used real-world categories of football (soccer) teams, with the out-group representing a high or low threat to the in-group. Here we found an out-group disadvantage (rather than an in-group advantage) only when the out-group was low threat, and a relationship between out-group but not in-group attitudes and the size of the OGB. These findings suggest that the characteristics of the out-group can be more important than the in-group in modulating the OGB.

KEYWORDS:

• Face recognition
• face memory
• own group bias

Acknowledgements

The work presented here was supported by a University of Lincoln, College of Social Sciences PhD studentship, and an EPS small grant awarded to KLR.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Experimental Psychology Society; University of Lincoln, College of Social Sciences.