A recent study from the University of Exeter has uncovered a notable bias in how Generation Z recognizes faces of different age groups. The research highlights a phenomenon known as the Own-Age Bias (OAB), which suggests that individuals tend to recognize faces that are similar in age to their own more accurately than those from different age groups.
The study involved two distinct groups: adults aged 19–30 and those aged 69–80. Participants were shown a series of unfamiliar faces and later asked to identify them from a larger array of both new and previously viewed images. Results showed that younger adults excelled at recognizing faces of their own age group but struggled significantly with identifying older faces. In contrast, older adults demonstrated uniform accuracy, recognizing both younger and older faces equally well.
Ciro Civile, a psychologist and co-author of the study, explained that the disparity in recognition ability likely stems from life experiences rather than inherent prejudice. He noted, “Since older participants have been young, they’ve developed the ability to process the information in younger faces and recognize them.” As older adults age, they continue to refine their ability to recognize older faces.
To further investigate the role of experience, the research team conducted a secondary test using inverted images—faces turned upside down. Under these conditions, neither age group showed any advantage, reinforcing the idea that perceptual expertise, gained through exposure and practice, drives the Own-Age Bias.
These findings carry crucial implications, particularly in high-stakes situations such as eyewitness testimony. Civile emphasized the importance of recognizing the challenges younger individuals face when identifying older adults. “Understanding the younger group’s difficulty recognizing older people is important for situations such as eyewitness testimony, where a person’s age can influence their accuracy in identifying suspects outside their age group,” he stated.
The study suggests that training and exposure may enhance the ability of younger individuals to recognize older faces. This insight could have significant ramifications for various fields, including law enforcement and legal proceedings, where accurate identification is vital.
The research, co-authored by Civile and G. Wang, is set to be published in the journal Perception in March 2025.
Given the increasing interactions between different age groups in diverse settings, understanding these recognition biases may help bridge communication gaps and foster better intergenerational relationships.
