The Cosby Show- Attitudes versus Behavior

The success of “The Cosby Show” questioned the idea of how racism still exist in America, however it is more hidden. The researchers state “This is racism, masquerading as liberalism. White people are willing to accept that black and white people can be equal, and their enjoyment of the Cosby show is a testimony to this”. This phrase is essential when trying to understand the concept of racism because it makes us question why sometimes our attitude does not agree with our behavior. In my social psychology class I have learned the differences between attitude and behavior. In LaPiere’s 1934 research study “Attitudes vs. Actions” the researcher examined attitude towards Chinese people. Although during that period of time there was dislikes for the Chinese community, Pierre traveled with a Chinese couple in 250 restaurants across U.S, and as he traveled by car with the Chinese foreign couple he discovered that out of all restaurants they went to together, the group was refused service by one restaurant because of the Chinese couple. This shows that our negative attitude towards a group does not always reflect our behavior towards them.

However after 6 months, Lapiere sent out survey to see the difference between questionnaire assessment and actions, he discovered that the people from the 250 restaurants had negative attitudes towards Chinese people, however their actions told otherwise. The actions being that they were welcoming towards the Chinese couple. This is important, and pertains to what we learn in class because it helps us as individuals question the idea of the differences between our frames.  The negative attitude for Chinese people made the individuals have a negative mindset towards Chinese when filling out the questionnaire.This is a great example in understanding the different concept of race, motives and behaviors. We as a group can question how much of the negative response towards race actually have to with politics and our social environment versus our true beliefs towards others?. Can we take agenda setting theory into account where individuals  are told on media what is important, and where we see stereotypes more lively?  

Initially, I also related this idea to the idea of “fear” in our society because of stereotypes. This can be linked to my prior example of when I said in US at one point in time Americans were anti-Chinese. A reason for this could have been because people were afraid the Chinese were going to take away all the jobs that “Americans” should have the right to. This can also be linked to  “Introducing the cosby show” article. The researchers emphasize that it is possibility that the black people in the Cosby show were exceptions. The researcher also state that another possibility is that race is not relevant as much because of their class, and the content shown in the show. Viewers can possibly be viewing the characters  as white people. The idea of fear is important because it makes the audience think that because these black people are different than majority of the black people we “hear about” or “see”,  therefore they are more willing to accept the circumstances.  Do you believe that most times people are contradictory? or do you think that the whole idea of racism might depend on the circumstances? 

Here is a link that pertains to what I have learned in my class that discusses Lapieres study http://www.bus.lsu.edu/bedeian/articles/Attv.Actions-SBP-1989.pdhttp://www.bus.lsu.edu/bedeian/articles/Attv.Actions-SBP-1989.pdff