Social and cognitive factors affecting the own-race bias in Whites

Ashlyn E. Slone, Florida State University
John C. Brigham, Florida State University
Christian A. Meissner, Florida State University

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BASIC AND APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 22(2), 71–84
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Copyright © 2000, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Abstract

This study investigated factors associated with the commonly found own-race bias in face recognition. We utilized several measures of general face recognition memory, visual perception and memory, general cognitive functioning, racial attitudes, and cross-race experience in an attempt to distinguish those individuals more likely to demonstrate the effect. White respondents (N = 129) were presented two facial recognition tests (immediate and delayed) involving Black and White faces of both genders. The resulting own-race bias stemmed largely from a bias to respond “seen before” to Black faces, and produced an effect that was reliable across a two-day period. An own-sex bias in accuracy was also found. Two central measures of visual memory, the Benton Facial Recognition Test and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figures Test, were related to ability to recognize White faces. Self-reported amount of recent cross-race experiences was also correlated with overall accuracy on Black and White faces.