Abstract
Perceptions of mixed race Chinese-Europeans were investigated by independently varying their facial and name ethnicity. In Study 1a, Chinese faces were judged as more competent when paired with a European surname, and European faces more judged as more likeable when paired with a Chinese surname. However, when in Study 1b incongruency was manipulated via the ethnicities of targets’ first names, participants rated all targets more positively when paired with European names; there was no effect for competence. Study 2 examined perceptions of ambiguous (morphed) Chinese-Caucasian blends paired with ethnically congruent or incongruent first or last names. Although there were no effects of congruency on liking or competence ratings, faces with Chinese names, whether first or last, were judged as more Chinese in appearance than faces paired with Caucasian names. Furthermore, 50% morphs were judged as more Chinese than Caucasian in appearance, consistent with the phenomenon of hypodescent. Overall, the findings show the importance of naming stereotypes and name-face consistency for judgement and perception; reasons and implications are discussed.