The importance of out-group characteristics for the own-group face memory bias

The own-group bias (OGB) in face recognition refers to the finding that in-group faces are recognized with greater accuracy than out-group faces. Current literature emphasizes the importance of in-group characteristics for the OGB. Across two experiments we explored the importance of both in-group and out-group characteristics. Using an old/new task, Experiment 1 categorized faces by university membership and found no evidence of the OGB or a relationship between the OGB and attitudes towards the in-group. Experiment 2 used real-world categories of football (soccer) teams, with the out-group representing a high or low threat to the in-group. Here we found an out-group disadvantage (rather than an in-group advantage) only when the out-group was low threat, and a relationship between out-group but not in-group attitudes and the size of the OGB. These findings suggest that the characteristics of the out-group can be more important than the in-group in modulating the OGB.