Long-term behavioral effects of cognitive dissonance

The study was conducted to investigate whether or not the arousal of cognitive dissonance can produce long-term behavioral effects. Children were told not to play with a very desirable toy under high or low threat, and were left alone with the toy. Those who did not play with it were given a second opportunity to play with the toy several weeks later, with the original trreat removed. The prediction was that those subjects who had resisted...