ERIC Number: EJ1237354
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jan
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
Infants and Adults Represent Faces Differently
Rennels, Jennifer L.; Kayl, Andrea J.
Developmental Psychology, v56 n1 p1-14 Jan 2020
This research examined how 5-, 8-, and 11-month-olds with female primary caregivers mentally represented faces using a familiarization procedure similar to real-world experience in which infants have greater exposure to female faces aged 21-39 years than other face types. We predicted infants would form weighted representations of faces (i.e., representations weighted toward the most frequently seen faces) and would more easily form weighted representations of female than male faces given their predominant experience with women (Experiments 1 and 2). We also tested adults using this familiarization procedure (Experiment 3) and predicted they would form averaged representations of faces based on data showing that preferences for averageness (the mathematical central tendency of a population) get stronger with development. Data from the three studies supported these hypotheses. Differences in how infants and adults mentally represent faces might be developmentally advantageous and such representations provide a mechanism to help explain the differential expertise in infants' and adults' face processing abilities.
Descriptors: Infants, Adults, Human Body, Recognition (Psychology), Familiarity, Cognitive Processes, Visual Perception, Schemata (Cognition), Gender Differences, Developmental Stages
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: BCS0645761; BCS1148049