Ingroup and outgroup differences in face detection

Bibliographic Data

ID5268958
AuthorsJonathan E Prunty (0000-0002-9180-1932, School of Psychology University of Kent Canterbury UK, corresponding author), Rob Jenkins (0000-0003-4793-0435, Department of Psychology University of York York UK), Rana Qarooni (Department of Psychology University of York York UK), Markus Bindemann (0000-0002-9608-4186, School of Psychology University of Kent Canterbury UK)
Year2023
Volume114
IssueS1
Pages94-111
Publication date2023-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1269 • E-ISSN: 2044-8295
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/bjop.12588
PMID35876334
OpenAlexW4287307760
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited84

Humans show improved recognition for faces from their own social group relative to faces from another social group. Yet before faces can be recognized, they must first be detected in the visual field. Here, we tested whether humans also show an ingroup bias at the earliest stage of face processing - the point at which the presence of a face is first detected. To this end, we measured viewers' ability to detect ingroup (Black and White) and outgroup faces (Asian, Black, and White) in everyday scenes. Ingroup faces were detected with greater speed and accuracy relative to outgroup faces (Experiment 1). Removing face hue impaired detection generally, but the ingroup detection advantage was undiminished (Experiment 2). This same pattern was replicated by a detection algorithm using face templates derived from human data (Experiment 3). These findings demonstrate that the established ingroup bias in face processing can extend to the early process of detection. This effect is 'colour blind', in the sense that group membership effects are independent of general effects of image hue. Moreover, it can be captured by tuning visual templates to reflect the statistics of observers' social experience. We conclude that group bias in face detection is both a visual and a social phenomenon

Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Face (sociological concept) · Face perception · Hue · Ingroups and outgroups · Linguistics · Outgroup · Perception · Artificial Intelligence · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Face Recognition and Perception · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology

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