Schemata in face recognition

Three schema hypotheses (framework, integration, and attention hypotheses) were tested to determine if schemata for faces show the same properties as schemata in other domains. A new theory of levels of schemata for faces was introduced. Experiment 1 showed that superior recognition of famous over unknown faces (as demonstrated in previous work) was due to subjects attaching an episodic tag to the famous person schema and not to the retention of specific episodic information within the schema framework. Experiment 2 showed schema integration effects. Confusion of old and new schema information occurred for famous faces, but not for unknown or inverted faces. Experiment 3 supported the attention hypothesis. Subjects were better at recognizing features that had been presented in a schema inconsistent position rather than a schema consistent position on unknown faces. The results from Experiment 4 contrasted with standard schema findings. Subjects were unable to detect substituted features that were inconsistent with schemata for famous faces, suggesting that an overall Gestalt is used in recognizing famous faces. Overall, the results from these experiments are in agreement with results from other schematic domains.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology, Experimental

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Perkins, Susan Jane

Contributors dc:contributor

• Brewer, William F.

• Psychology, Experimental

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1990 Perkins, Susan Jane

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9114372
(UMI)AAI9114372

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/23643