An Experiment in the Modification of Attitudes Leading to International Tensions

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with attitudes towards other nations and races which lead to International tensions - and to what extent they can be modified. It is also concerned with the most effective methods of bringing about such a change. The thesis is based on the assumption that attitudes due to prejudice and ignorance may be changed through greater understanding of other nations, provided that this understanding is both of the intellect and emotions. Taking as its main subject "Attitudes toward the Japanese people," an endeavour has been made to create such an emotional understanding by using the services of a speaker who has lived in Japan and come to know the Japanese as living people with their problems and difficulties, their virtues and vices. The thesis has compared the effectiveness of this talk about the Japanese with the effectiveness of the same talk given in conjunction with a film designed to dispel racial and national prejudice generally. The question as to whether any change made in attitude affects International tensions, still remains to be answered.