Citation

Lasswell HD. Am. J. Sociol. 1938; 43(5): 704-716.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1938, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/217835

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Chinese responded to local Japanese encroachments in 1931 by submission, and in 1932 by partial resistance. Why did they move from partial to total resistance in the crisis of July-August, 1937? Certain propositions are laid down about the changes in the environment and about the state of initial reactivity which condition the response in question. These propositions stress the magnitude of the deprivation, the frequency of certain previous expectations (the immediate inevitability of the conflict, increasing strength in fighting effectiveness), and the frequency of certain previous demands (for total resistance). The Chinese overestimated their fighting effectiveness in some degree, and this is traced to factors of opportunity, skill and psychological need.