Final answer:
The Lapierre experiment examines the link between attitudes and behaviors, potentially highlighting that B) people's reported attitudes don’t always match with their actions. This aligns with cognitive dissonance theory and is exemplified by studies on conformity and obedience, such as those by Asch and Milgram.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Lapierre experiment sought to investigate the relationship between attitudes and behaviors, aiming to understand if there is a direct correspondence between what people say they believe (their attitudes) and how they actually act (their behaviors). A potential outcome of this experiment might reveal that people's attitudes do not necessarily dictate their behaviors, which would be reflected in option (B) of the provided choices.
In social psychology, cognitive dissonance theory explains how individuals strive to maintain internal consistency between their values, beliefs, and actions. When confronted with circumstances that challenge these alignments, they may alter one or more elements to reduce the discomfort associated with cognitive dissonance. On the other hand, the influences of conformity and obedience outline how group dynamics and authority figures can dramatically sway an individual’s behavior, sometimes against their private beliefs.
One of the landmark studies on conformity was conducted by Solomon Asch, who demonstrated that social pressure could lead individuals to conform to the wrong answers given by a majority group. Similarly, Stanley Milgram’s experiment on obedience highlighted that people might follow directives from authority figures even when such actions conflict with their personal ethical standards.