Development of face categorization: The role of conceptual knowledge

Journal/Book: Sprache Kognit. 1997; 16: Langgass-Strasse 76, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. Verlag Hans Huber. 14-30.

Abstract: Conceptual knowledge is held responsible for category cohesiveness. The present studies investigated whether conceptual knowledge is also important in the analytical and holistic categorization of complex stimuli. In this case, the complex stimuli were fees. Children and adults were instructed to classify faces varying multidimensionally in two categories. The data show that adults learned face categories, which are conceptually related, holistically, whereas children preferred an analytic mode of processing (Experiment 1). Categories without conceptual relation induced an analytic mode of processing in adults as well as in children (Experiment 2). However, if conceptual knowledge about face categories is given before the task, both children and adults used a holistic processing mode (Experiment 3 and 4). Thus, it can be concluded that conceptual knowledge is a significant condition for a holistic mode of processing in face categorization.

Note: Article Schwarzer G, Univ Tubingen, Inst Psychol, Friedrichstr 21, D-72072 Tubingen, GERMANY

Keyword(s): PERCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT; FAMILY-RESEMBLANCE; CLASSIFICATION; RECOGNITION; OBJECTS; MODES

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