Perceiving a face : a dual-process model account.

Abstract

The paper reviewed recent findings on face recognition across cognitive- and social-based studies, and compared existing models of face recognition. Identifying a need for a more general model, dual-process model of face recognition was proposed. The model suggests automatic process and controlled process underlie face recognition and explain differences between familiar and unfamiliar face recognition. Incorporating social elements into face recognition, context information was proposed to facilitate the recognition mechanism. Next, the article discussed the transition from an unfamiliar face to a familiar face, and the role of the two processes. The new model explained findings on prosopagnosia, face learning, own-age advantage and other phenomena. The paper ended with a discussion on the potential implications as well as possible future directions to pursue, and urged for more cross-disciplinary research.