In Richard LaPiere's study, a Chinese couple travelling across the United States was refused service only once, yet most hotel managers later said in questionnaires that they would not accommodate Chinese guests. Which conclusion did this result lead to?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Attitudes may not always predict the actual pattern of one's behaviour.
Option (1) Attitudes may not always predict the actual pattern of one's behaviour. — Correct. The managers' replies showed a negative attitude, but their actual behaviour towards the couple was positive. The two did not match, so LaPiere concluded that attitudes may not always predict behaviour.
Option (2) Behaviour may sometimes decide the attitude a person comes to hold. — Incorrect. This comes from the Festinger and Carlsmith experiment. Students paid one dollar for a lie judged their attitude from their own behaviour. LaPiere's study compared stated attitude with actual behaviour, so it does not show this.
Option (3) Prejudices are often based on stereotypes about a specific group. — Incorrect. This is how prejudice often forms: a stereotype, the cognitive component, leads to a negative attitude. LaPiere's result was about the gap between attitude and behaviour.
Option (4) Strong and central attitudes are more difficult to change than peripheral ones. — Incorrect. This is a feature of the existing attitude that affects attitude change. LaPiere did not try to change anyone's attitude; he only compared what people said with what they did.
NCERT (2026-27): “Attitude-Behaviour Relationship … |