Race Guides Attention in Visual Search

PloS One
Marte Otten

Abstract

It is known that faces are rapidly and even unconsciously categorized into social groups (black vs. white, male vs. female). Here, I test whether preferences for specific social groups guide attention, using a visual search paradigm. In Experiment 1 participants searched displays of neutral faces for an angry or frightened target face. Black target faces were detected more efficiently than white targets, indicating that black faces attracted more attention. Experiment 2 showed that attention differences between black and white faces were correlated with individual differences in automatic race preference. In Experiment 3, using happy target faces, the attentional preference for black over white faces was eliminated. Taken together, these results suggest that automatic preferences for social groups guide attention to individuals from negatively valenced groups, when people are searching for a negative emotion such as anger or fear.

References

Aug 2, 1994·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M I Posner
Jan 1, 1996·Perception·D G PurcellR B Skov
Mar 21, 2001·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·L Itti, C Koch
Aug 25, 2001·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·B K Payne
Aug 15, 2003·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Anthony G GreenwaldMahzarin R Banaji
Nov 25, 2003·Psychological Science·Kurt Hugenberg, Galen V Bodenhausen
May 21, 2004·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Jeremy M Wolfe, Todd S Horowitz
Dec 16, 2004·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Jennifer L EberhardtPaul G Davies
Jan 12, 2005·Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers : a Journal of the Psychonomic Society, Inc·Meredith Minear, Denise C Park
May 11, 2006·Psychological Science·Joan Y ChiaoNalini Ambady
Apr 3, 2007·Cognition & Emotion·Elaine FoxKevin Dutton
Oct 18, 2007·Journal of Experimental Social Psychology·Jennifer T Kubota, Tiffany A Ito
Aug 30, 2008·Psychological Bulletin·Alexandra FrischenDaniel Smilek
Nov 19, 2008·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Pamela M WalkerAnna C Nobre
Jul 10, 2009·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Anthony G GreenwaldMahzarin R Banaji
Sep 4, 2009·Journal of Experimental Social Psychology·Sophie TrawalterJennifer A Richeson
Jan 1, 1947·Journal of Abnormal Psychology·J S BRUNER, C C GOODMAN

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 22, 2019·Frontiers in Psychology·Jelena Galojan, Cornelia Kranczioch

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Matlab
Facegen
PsychToolbox

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.