Bruce + Young's Theory of Face Recognition - Perception

Question 1

According to Bruce and Young what is face recognition?

Answer 1

A quite holistic system, involving the inter-relationships between different features
- A series of modules that work sequentially and in parallel

Question 2

What is the first step in facial recognition?

Answer 2

Identifies human face

• Structural encoding + mental representation of the face is produced
• Basic processing e.g. male or female

Question 3

What is the second step in facial recognition?

Answer 3

Face compared to face recognition units

- Includes every face stored in memory

Question 4

What is the third step in facial recognition?

Answer 4

If theres a match = access person identity notes - personal info of those stored

Question 5

What is the fourth step in facial recognition?

Answer 5

Retrive persons name

Question 6

What is expression analysis?

Answer 6

Makes inferences about someones emotional state from facial features

Question 7

What is Facial speech analysis?

Answer 7

Uses visual info from the face when interpreting speech

Question 8

What is Direct Visual Processing?

Answer 8

Allows recognition of features of the faces without identifying the person

Question 9

How is the Cognitive System used?

Answer 9

Additional info that may aid recognition

Question 10

How does N/N relate to Bruce and Young’s theory?

Answer 10

Theory suggests facial recognition is an innate system but we develop whats needed for it through life e.g. person identity notes (nurture)

Question 11

What did Young et al do?

Answer 11

Studied face perception in ex-servicemen:

- Men had missile wounds to the back of the head

Question 12

What did Young et al find?

Answer 12

• Some poor at familiar face recognition (face recognition units not working)
• Some poor at matching unfamiliar faces (structural encoding not working)
• Others couldn’t recognise facial expressions (expression analysis not working)

Question 13

What does Young et al’s study show?

Answer 13

Supports the theory as shows there are independent systems for different aspects of face recognition.

Question 14

How does N/N relate to Young et al’s study?

Answer 14

Nurture = caused prosopagnosia, nurture can have a big effect

Question 15

How does PAS relate to Bruce and Young’s study?

Answer 15

Scientific research carried out under controlled conditions. But also valid as genuine cases of brain damage.

Question 16

What did Young, Hey and Ellis do?

Answer 16

Asked participants to keep a diary of problems with facial recognition

Question 17

What did Young, Hey and Ellis find?

Answer 17

• 1008 incidents BUT not one involved putting a face to a name without recalling some details about the person
• 109 occasions where details not names were remembered

Question 18

What does Young, Hey and Ellis’ study show?

Answer 18

Supports the theory as every time people generated a name they first came out with a fact

Question 19

How does PAS relate to Young, Hey and Ellis’ study?

Answer 19

Unscientific = self-reports