Wiley, Developmental Science, 3(19), p. 362-371, 2015
DOI: 10.1111/desc.12301
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Infants can form object categories based on perceptual cues, but their ability to form categories based on differentialexperience is less clear. Here we examined whether infants filter through perceptual differences among faces from differentother-race classes and represent them as a single other-race class different only from own-race faces. We used afamiliarization/novelty-preference procedure to investigate category formation for two other-race face classes (Black vs.Asian) by White 6- and 9-month-olds. The data indicated that while White 6-month-olds categorically representedthe distinction between Black and Asian faces, White 9-month-olds formed a broad other-race category inclusive ofBlack and Asian faces, but exclusive of own-race White faces. The findings provide evidence that narrowing can occur formental processes other than discrimination: category formation is also affected. The results suggest that frequency ofexperience with own-race versus other-race classes of faces may propel infants to contrast own-race faces with other-racefaces, but not different classes of other-race faces with each other.