The Role of Social Cognition in the Own-Age Bias: An Exploration of Individuation and Categorisation Processes

Abstract

The own-age bias is characterised by better recognition of own-age than other-age faces. While some evidence exists for the role of perceptual-expertise in the bias, little research has evaluated the potential role of social-cognition. Across four studies, this thesis found mixed support for a role of social-cognition. Motivation to individuate faces and motivated expertise learning both influenced how well other-age faces could be recognised, though manipulations of category salience did not.