The Development of Differential Use of Inner and Outer Face Features in Familiar Face Identification

Abstract

Adults recognize familiar faces better from their internal than external parts (Ellis, Shepherd, & Davies, 1979). Children from 4 to 10 years old made familiarity judgments of part-face and whole-face photographs of their schoolmates. In contrast with results reported for adult judgments of familiarity, external face features were more accurate than internal features for younger children, with a switch to the adult pattern after 9 years of age. All children showed an advantage for whole-over part-face identification. The switch in sensitivity in later childhood coincides with the period at which expertise in face recognition is believed to be achieved. This coincidence suggests some underpinnings for the basis of the development of such expertise in face recognition in adults.