Assessing the influence of recollection and familiarity in memory for own- versus other-race faces

Psychon Bull Rev. 2009 Feb;16(1):99-103. doi: 10.3758/PBR.16.1.99.

Abstract

In the present research, we examined the contributions of recollection and familiarity in memory for own- and other-race faces. In Experiment 1, we used a repetition lag paradigm (Jennings & Jacoby, 1997) to demonstrate the typical cross-race effect with respect to discrimination accuracy and response bias. Participants were more likely to commit repetition errors by falsely recognizing repeated other-race faces. In Experiment 2, we used process-dissociation equations to estimate differences in recollection and familiarity. As predicted, results showed a greater reliance on recollection-based processing for own-race faces. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Attention
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Discrimination Learning
  • Emotions
  • Face*
  • Facial Expression
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Identification, Psychological*
  • Male
  • Mental Recall*
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Recognition, Psychology*
  • Retention, Psychology
  • Young Adult