Does the cross-race effect really exist?

The cross-race effect sounds like a really scientific phenomenon, but essentially, it is a part of our daily interactions with those around us. Basically, we struggle to recognize the faces of people that are not of our same race, which I think is only normal. Since we are born, we are surrounded by our family members, who all kind of look like us in some way, shape or form. Like we've discussed in class, we're primitive in a sense because we gravitate toward our own and are skeptical of those who are unlike us.

Putting that primitiveness aside, however, we need to try to think outside our racial/ethnic box. Like the article suggested, people that live in integrated communities don't struggle as much to differentiate people who happen to be of a different ethnic or racial background. Even if we unintentionally isolate ourselves from others, we are still contributing to this cycle of silent bias for our own people, and in turn, becoming more and more ignorant.


One of the best things we can do is to teach kids to appreciate those of all ethnic backgrounds so they can become more open-minded, accepting adults. The article actually gave some scientific evidence for this. In one study, kids in first and second grades recognized white and Asian faces equally well, strongly suggesting that this "natural" bias may not be 100 percent innate. In other words, our parents and social groups influence us A LOT  when it comes to shaping our views of others.


What do you all think?