When memory shifts toward more typical category exemplars: accentuation effects in the recollection of ethnically ambiguous faces.
In 4 studies, the authors examined the impact of categorization on the recollection of ethnically ambiguous faces. Participants were presented with faces lying at various locations on mixed-race continua (i.e., Caucasian-North African and Caucasian-Asian faces were used as source images in a morphing program). In all studies, the prevalence of exclusive ethnic features in a face distorted participants' recollections of the face toward faces more typical of the category. Specifically, the recollection of 30% North African (or 30% Asian) faces shifted toward Caucasian source faces, whereas the recollection of 70% North African (or 70% Asian) faces shifted toward North African (Asian) source faces. Memory distortions did not emerge for extremely ambiguous (50%) faces and proved larger on mixed-race than same-race continua (Studies 3 and 4). Memory distortions also emerged with high levels of confidence. The authors elaborate on the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Corneille
Olivier
O
Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. olivier.corneille@psp.ucl.ac.be
Huart
Johanne
J
Becquart
Emilie
E
Brédart
Serge
S
D000328:Adult; D005006:Ethnicity; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D012938:Social Perception