Robert Merton Suggested That Some White Americans Who Praise Abraham

question 79

Multiple Choice

Robert Merton suggested that some white Americans who praise Abraham Lincoln for being frugal and thrifty might describe an Asian American with the same qualities as being stingy and penny pinching.What explains this double standard?

• A) Standards of behavior considered appropriate in Lincoln's time are now looked down upon because of historical change.
• B) Lincoln was miserly, but he is remembered differently because American textbooks are not permitted to say negative things about presidents.
• C) Lincoln was a truly remarkable individual who acted in these ways for selfless reasons, something everyday people can't hope to do.
• D) For these white Americans, Lincoln was a member of their racial in-group, whereas an Asian American would be a member of an out-group.

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Definitions:

Enthusiasm

Intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.

Internal Conflict

A psychological struggle within the mind of an individual, often involving differing emotions, desires, or beliefs.

Forming Stage

The initial phase in group development where members meet and start to form relationships, characterized by orientation and acquaintance.

Group Process

The patterns of interaction, behavior, and dynamics that occur within a group setting.