Richard Tracy LaPiere (September 5, 1899 – February 2, 1986) was a professor (and later professor emeritus) of

sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...

Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...

from 1929 to 1965.

Early years and education

Born in

Beloit, Wisconsin Beloit ( ) is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 36,657 people. Beloit is a principal city of the Janesville, Wisconsin, Janesville–Beloit metropolitan statistical area (Rock Co ...

, LaPiere obtained his B.A. in Economics (1926), followed by his M.A in Sociology (1927) and his Ph.D in Sociology (1930), all at Stanford University.

‘Attitudes vs. Actions’ article

LaPiere is best known for his 1934 article "Attitudes vs. Actions" that appeared in the journal '' Social Forces''. LaPiere spent two years traveling the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

by car with a couple of Chinese ethnicity. At the time there was substantial anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States, e.g., as reflected in the

Chinese Exclusion Act The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a United States Code, United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years. The law made exceptions for travelers an ...

of the late 19th Century. During that time they visited 251 hotels and restaurants and, while LaPiere reports that some people greeting them looked curious, they were turned away only once. LaPiere concludes that positive reactions were associated with factors unrelated to the race of the couple (such as neat appearance and smiling). and his data reflect his own interpretations of what occurred at each stop. LaPiere's language and conclusions in the paper reflect his own racial views and awareness gaps of the time. For example, he interprets curiosity as treatment "more positive than typical." Six months after the conclusion of their travels (to provide a chance to forget their behavior), LaPiere mailed a survey to all of the businesses they visited with the question, "Will you accept members of the Chinese race in your establishment?" The available responses were "Yes", "No", and "Depends upon the circumstances". Of the 128 that responded, 92% answered No, reflecting the anti-Chinese sentiments of the time. LaPiere also mailed a survey to a comparison group of hotels and restaurants that had not been visited, and their responses were similar. The study was foundational in establishing the gap between attitudes and behaviors.

Memberships and accolades

LaPiere was an elected member of

Alpha Kappa Delta Alpha Kappa Delta () is an international honor society of sociology. It was founded by Emory S. Bogardus at the University of Southern California in 1920.''Robson, John, ed. (1963). ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (17th ed.) ...

and the Sociological Research Association, and a past president of the Pacific Sociological Association. In 1941 he was awarded a California Book Award silver medal for his fiction work ''When the Living Strive''.

Personal life

LaPiere married in 1934 and died of cancer in 1986. The Department of Sociology at Stanford University's annual research award for best graduate student paper is named in LaPiere's honor.

Selected bibliography

*''The Freudian ethic'' (1959) *''Collective Behavior'' (1938)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lapiere, Richard American sociologists People from Beloit, Wisconsin Stanford University alumni 1899 births 1986 deaths