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The advantage of low and medium attractiveness for facial composite production from modern forensic systems

  • Beth H. Richardson
    ,
  • Charity Brown
    ,
  • Priscilla Heard
    ,
  • Melanie Pitchford
    ,
  • Emma Portch
    ,
  • Karen Lander
  • University of Central Lancashire
    ,
  • University of Leeds
    ,
  • University of the West of England
    ,
  • Bournemouth University
    ,
  • University of Manchester
    ,
  • Luleå University of Technology
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

Recognition following long delays is superior for highly attractive and highly unattractive faces (cf. medium-attractive faces). In the current work, we investigated participants’ ability to recreate from memory faces of low, medium, and high physical attractiveness. In Experiment 1, participants constructed composites of familiar (celebrity) faces using the holistic EvoFIT system. When controlling for other variables that may influence face recognition (memorability, familiarity, likeability, and age), correct naming and ratings of likeness were superior for composites of low attractiveness targets. Experiment 2 replicated this design using the feature-based PRO-fit system, revealing superiority (by composite naming and ratings of likeness) for medium attractiveness. In Experiment 3, participants constructed composites of unfamiliar faces after a forensically relevant delay of 1 day. Using ratings of likeness as a measure of composite effectiveness, these same effects were observed for EvoFIT and PRO-fit. The work demonstrates the importance of attractiveness for method of composite face construction.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 381-395

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (Volume 9, Issue 3)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 19/06/2020
  • Published - 28/09/2020

Publication status

Published - 28/09/2020

ISSN

2211-3681

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/624585
  • Scopus: 85089909433

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