Robert Merton pointed out that we remember Abraham Lincoln,one of America's great heroes,as being frugal,thrifty,and sparing,yet some people might describe these same traits differently when a member of some other racial or ethnic group possesses them.for example,Merton suggested that some white Americans who would describe Lincoln this way might describe an Asian American who has these same qualities as being stingy,miserly,and penny pinching.What explains this double standard?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The double standard can be explained by social identity theory, which suggests that people tend to view members of their own racial or ethnic group favorably (in-group bias) and those who are different from them (out-group members) as inferior or negative. In this case, Lincoln is a member of the white Americans' in-group, so his frugality and thriftiness are viewed positively, while an Asian American possessing the same traits is viewed negatively because they are part of the out-group.

Robert Merton Pointed Out That We Remember Abraham Lincoln,one of America's