title: The development of memory for own- and other-race faces.
abstract: This study demonstrates that experience and development interact to influence the "cross-race effect." In a multination study (n=245), Caucasian children and adults of European ancestry living in the United States, Norway, or South Africa, as well as biracial (Caucasian-African American) children and adults living in the United States, were tested for recognition of Asian, African, and Caucasian faces. Regardless of national or biracial background, 8- to 10-year-olds, 12- to 14-year-olds, and adults recognized own-race faces more accurately than other-race faces, and did so to a similar extent, whereas 5- to 7-year-olds recognized all face types equally well. This same developmental pattern emerged for biracial children and adults. Thus, early meaningful exposure did not substantially alter the developmental trajectory. During young childhood, developmental influences on face processing operate on a system sufficiently plastic to preclude, under certain conditions, the cross-race effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. ggoodman@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Gail S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sayfan
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandhei
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walle-Olsen
authors.forename: Svein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magnussen
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pezdek
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arredondo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009664:Norway; D012649:Self Concept; D012951:Socialization; D013019:South Africa; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*