Who amongst the following researchers conducted a study to measure Americans' attitude towards Chinese and concluded that attitude may not always predict actual patterns of one's behaviour?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Richard LaPiere
Richard LaPiere, an American social psychologist, asked a Chinese couple to travel across the United States and stay in different hotels; they were refused service only once. Later, when he sent questionnaires to the same hotels, a very large percentage said they would not accommodate Chinese guests. The negative attitude did not match the positive behaviour actually shown, so attitudes may not always predict actual pattern of one’s behaviour.
NCERT (2025-26): “Attitude-Behaviour Relationship … In the days when Americans were said to be prejudiced against the Chinese, Richard LaPiere, an American social psychologist, conducted the following study. He asked a Chinese couple to travel across the United States, and stay in different hotels. Only once during these occasions they were refused service by one of the hotels. Sometime later, LaPiere sent out questionnaires to managers of hotels and tourist homes in the same areas where the Chinese couple had travelled, asking them if they would give accommodation to Chinese guests. A very large percentage said that they would not do so. This response showed a negative attitude towards the Chinese, which was inconsistent with the positive behaviour that was actually shown towards the travelling Chinese couple. Thus, attitudes may not always predict actual pattern of one’s behaviour.…” |