Most of us could probably provide an anecdote or two which demonstrate the truth of the old saw that people of other races all look alike. I assumed it was predominately white people who thought all black people looked alike until I heard a black man say that all white people look alike. So if the situation exists, it must be universal.
So here comes a study that proves it, at least as to whites. They used an MRI to measure the high-level visual cortex in the subjects to test the changes when exposed to images of people of different races. Anyway, here's a report about the study at You All Look Alike to Me’ is hard-wired in us:
Their findings affirmed previous studies, determining that participants showed a greater tendency to individuate— recognize differences in—own-race faces, and less for other races.
It was a small study, so if this is a serious area of analysis, then more work is needed. Also, all the test subjects were all white, and the woke scientist declined to extrapolate:
Previous studies have found the “other-race effect” is found in populations other than whites. But Hughes isn’t comfortable extending his findings to assume that black people also “de-individuate” white faces in the high-level visual cortex. The reason: Majority vs. minority perceptions.
Meanwhile, jury members should try to keep this in mind if testimony of an eye witness is crucial evidence.
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10:54 AM 10/16/2019
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