Correlations between holistic processing, Autism quotient, extraversion, and experience and the own gender bias in face recognition
The variability in the own gender bias (OGB) in face recognition is thought to be based on experience and the engagement of expert face processing mechanisms for own gender faces. Experience is also associated with personality characteristics such as extraversion and Autism, yet the effects of these variables on the own gender bias has not been explored. We ran a face recognition study exploring the relationships between own gender experience, holistic processing (measured using the face inversion effect, composite face effect, and the parts and wholes test) personality characteristics (extraversion and Autism Quotient) and the OGB. Findings did not support a mediational account where experience increases holistic processing and this increases the OGB. Rather, there was a direct relationship between extraversion and Autism Quotient and the OGB. We interpret this as personality characteristics having an effect on the motivation to process own gender faces more deeply than opposite gender faces.
PloS one