Reframing the Other-Race Effect: Network Analysis Reveals Intergroup Emotion and Ethnic-Racial Identity Pathways to Other-Race Recognition

Other-race recognition difficulties contribute to wrongful convictions and social integration barriers. These difficulties are traditionally explained via perceptual expertise and socio-cognitive models but the intrapersonal factors underlying other-race recognition remain underexplored. Using theory-driven variable selection and data-driven network modelling, we identified the shortest pathways linking personal identity factors to other-race recognition. Participants (N = 515) completed face recognition tasks and personality, contact, ethnic-racial identity, and emotions measures. Network analysis revealed a hierarchical face recognition model: hostility is the central mediator through which personal identity variables influence other-race recognition. Intergroup emotions and ethnic-racial identity further play dual roles in recognition. While hostility and negative own-race attitudes impair other-race recognition, multiculturalist identity, empathy, and affection reduce hostility to improve performance. This study redefines other-race recognition as rooted in intergroup emotions and ethnic-racial identity, rather than merely perceptual or socio-cognitive processes. Interventions should focus on reducing hostility and promoting empathetic and multicultural identities.