Robert Merton suggested that some white Americans who praise Abraham Lincoln for being frugal and thrifty might describe an Asian American with the same qualities as being stingy and penny pinching. What explains this double standard?

C) For these white Americans, Lincoln was a member of their racial in-group, whereas an Asian American would be a member of an out-group.

Explanation:

This example is a very common example of racial or ethical double standards. Something that is seen as preferable and acceptable for one group is considered as an undesirable trait for another.

One group's traits are judged differently than the same trait in another group - like saving money in the context of white people is a good trait, while saving money when it comes to Asians is seen as being stingy, just because they are different, outsiders and expected to behave like that based on racial stereotypes and prejudices. This makes the members of one group more prone to the evaluation of their behavior, harder to adapt and more likely to be judged even if they show preferable traits.