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Article
The headscarf effect revisited: Further evidence for a culture-based internal face processing advantage
Perception
  • Yin Wang, NYU Abu Dhabi
  • Justin Thomas, Zayed University
  • Sophia C. Weissgerber, NYU Abu Dhabi
  • Sahar Kazemini, NYU Abu Dhabi
  • Israr Ul-Haq, NYU Abu Dhabi
  • Susanne Quadflieg, NYU Abu Dhabi
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Abstract

© 2015 a Pion publication. Encoding the internal features of unfamiliar faces poses a perceptual challenge that occasionally results in face recognition errors. Extensive experience with faces framed by a headscarf may, however, enhance perceivers’ ability to process internal facial information. To examine this claim empirically, participants in the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America completed a standard part-whole face recognition task. Accuracy on the task was examined using a 2 (perceiver culture: Emirati vs American) × 2 (face race: Arab vs white) × 2 (probe type: part vs whole) × 3 (probe feature: eyes vs nose vs mouth) mixed-measures analysis of variance. As predicted, Emiratis outperformed Americans on the administered task. Although their recognition advantage occurred regardless of probe type, it was most pronounced for Arab faces and for trials that captured the processing of nose or mouth information. The findings demonstrate that culture-based experiences hone perceivers’ face processing skills.

Publisher
Pion Limited
Keywords
  • Cross-cultural differences,
  • Face discrimination,
  • Face matching,
  • Person identification
Scopus ID
84926217298
Indexed in Scopus
Yes
Open Access
Yes
Open Access Type
Green: A manuscript of this publication is openly available in a repository
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/50297253/manuscript_embedded.pdf
Citation Information
Yin Wang, Justin Thomas, Sophia C. Weissgerber, Sahar Kazemini, et al.. "The headscarf effect revisited: Further evidence for a culture-based internal face processing advantage" Perception Vol. 44 Iss. 3 (2015) p. 328 - 336 ISSN: <a href="https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/issn/0301-0066" target="_blank">0301-0066</a>
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/justin-thomas28211/34/