Recognition of Faces as a Function of Race, Attitudes, and Reported Cross-Racial Friendships

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the ability of 19 black male and 25 female college students to identify previously seen black and white male and female faces as a function of interracial experience, racial attitude, and cross-racial friendships. A significant own-race advantage in recognition was noted; concomitantly, more frequent false responses with white faces were recorded. Trends between performance and cross-racial friendship and interracial experience were noted for black males' recognition of white males' faces. No significant relationships between egalitarian attitude and recognition of white faces were observed. Measures of racial attitude and interracial experience were discussed.