Rule-based or information-integration category: processing of the self-face.

This study investigated the differences between categorizing the self-face and other faces. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether self-face categorization is consistent with dual-system categorization, such as in the competition between verbal and implicit systems (COVIS) model, or whether the self-face uses different categorizing methods than those used with other faces. The experiment adopted a dual-task paradigm to examine how participants complete rule-based/information-integration categorization tasks of the self-face/other faces and their method of processing when a numerical Stroop task was introduced. Results indicated that participants processed the self-face better than other faces in rule-based categorization, and there was no significant difference between categorization of the self-face and other faces during a single or dual task. This suggests there is a self-processing advantage in classification tasks; however, categorization based on face stimuli is not consistent with the COVIS model. Face categorization has a self-advantage effect, and categorization of human faces is distinctive from other types of categorization.