Abstract
Recent evidence suggests stronger holistic processing for own-race faces may underlie the own-race advantage in face memory. In previous studies Caucasian participants have demonstrated larger holistic processing effects for Caucasian over Asian faces. However, Asian participants have consistently shown similar sized effects for both Asian and Caucasian faces. We investigated two proposed explanations for the holistic processing of other-race faces by Asian participants: (1) greater other-race exposure, (2) a general global processing bias. Holistic processing was tested using the part-whole task. Participants were living in predominantly own-race environments and other-race contact was evaluated. Despite reporting significantly greater contact with own-race than other-race people, Chinese participants displayed strong holistic processing for both Asian and Caucasian upright faces. In addition, Chinese participants showed no evidence of holistic processing for inverted faces arguing against a general global processing bias explanation. Caucasian participants, in line with previous studies, displayed stronger holistic processing for Caucasian than Asian upright faces. For inverted faces there were no race-of-face differences. These results are used to suggest that Asians may make more general use of face-specific mechanisms than Caucasians.
Highlights
Faces from races with which we are familiar are easier to recognize than faces from races with which we have little experience
Our main finding was that Asian participants showed strong holistic processing for upright own-race and other-race faces, and the part-whole effect was not weaker for other-race faces
This replicates a previous finding using the same stimuli in Asian participants living in Canada who reported no difference in contact with own- and other-race people (Tanaka et al, 2004)
Summary
Faces from races with which we are familiar are easier to recognize than faces from races with which we have little experience. In the general population these effects are observed for upright faces only and are absent or greatly reduced for other objects and inverted faces (for reviews see Rossion, 2008; McKone and Robbins, 2011; but see Richler et al, 2011b). It is argued these tasks tap a style of processing that is specialized for upright faces
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
