The own-age bias in face recognition

A meta-analytic and theoretical review

Dados Bibliográficos

ID14447647
AutoresMatthew G Rhodes (Colorado State University), Jeffrey S Anastasi (0000-0003-3784-6045, Sam Houston State University)
Ano2012
Volume138
Fascículo1
Páginas146-174
Data de publicação2012-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPsychological Bulletin (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0033-2909 • E-ISSN: 1939-1455
EditoraAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/a0025750
PMID22061689
OpenAlexW2030167030
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas58
Referências citadas34

A large number of studies have examined the finding that recognition memory for faces of one's own age group is often superior to memory for faces of another age group. We examined this own-age bias (OAB) in the meta-analyses reported. These data showed that hits were reliably greater for same-age relative to other-age faces (g = 0.23) and that false alarms were reliably less likely for same-age compared with other-age faces (g = -0.23). Further meta-analyses of measures of signal detection demonstrated that, although no difference in response criterion was evident (g = -0.01), discriminability was reliably better for same-age compared with other-age faces (g = 0.37). As well, children, younger adults, and older adults exhibited superior discriminability for same-age compared with other-age age faces. Thus, the OAB appears to be a robust effect that influences the accuracy of face recognition. Theoretical accounts of the OAB have generally suggested that it reflects more extensive, recent experiences with one's own age group relative to other-age groups. Additional analyses were supportive of this account as the OAB was present even for groups (e.g., older adults) that had prior experiences as members of another age group. However, the most comprehensive account of the OAB will also likely invoke mechanisms suggested by social-cognitive theories

Age discrimination · Age groups · Cognition · Developmental psychology · Meta-analysis · Psychiatry · Recognition memory · Demography · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Face recognition and analysis · Face Recognition and Perception · Medicine · Psychology