When preschoolers were forbidden to play with a very attractive toy, some received mild threats of punishment and others received severe threats of punishment should they disobey (Aronson & Carlsmith, 1963). Because they had __________ justification, children in the mild-threat condition experienced __________ dissonance and changed their rating of the forbidden toy.
A) ample external; more
B) insufficient external; less
C) ample external; less
D) insufficient external; more

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Children in the mild-threat condition had insufficient external justification for not playing with the toy, leading to more cognitive dissonance. To reduce this dissonance, they devalued the forbidden toy more than those who received severe threats and had ample external justification for their compliance.

When Preschoolers Were Forbidden to Play with a Very Attractive