title: The Role of Familiarity for Representations in Norm-Based Face Space.
abstract: According to the norm-based version of the multidimensional face space model (nMDFS, Valentine, 1991), any given face and its corresponding anti-face (which deviates from the norm in exactly opposite direction as the original face) should be equidistant to a hypothetical prototype face (norm), such that by definition face and anti-face should bear the same level of perceived typicality. However, it has been argued that familiarity affects perceived typicality and that representations of familiar faces are qualitatively different (e.g., more robust and image-independent) from those for unfamiliar faces. Here we investigated the role of face familiarity for rated typicality, using two frequently used operationalisations of typicality (deviation-based: DEV), and distinctiveness (face in the crowd: FITC) for faces of celebrities and their corresponding anti-faces. We further assessed attractiveness, likeability and trustworthiness ratings of the stimuli, which are potentially related to typicality. For unfamiliar faces and their corresponding anti-faces, in line with the predictions of the nMDFS, our results demonstrate comparable levels of perceived typicality (DEV). In contrast, familiar faces were perceived much less typical than their anti-faces. Furthermore, familiar faces were rated higher than their anti-faces in distinctiveness, attractiveness, likability and trustworthiness. These findings suggest that familiarity strongly affects the distribution of facial representations in norm-based face space. Overall, our study suggests (1) that familiarity needs to be considered in studies of mental representations of faces, and (2) that familiarity, general distance-to-norm and more specific vector directions in face space make different and interactive contributions to different types of facial evaluations.
authors.affiliation: DFG Research Unit Person Perception, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.|Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Stella J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Faerber
authors.affiliation: DFG Research Unit Person Perception, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.|Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.affiliation: Department for Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leder
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: DFG Research Unit Person Perception, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.|Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.|Michael Stifel Center Jena for Data-Driven and Simulation Science, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Schweinberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D000066499:Facial Recognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*