Based on research by Aronson and Carlsmith (1963) in which children were threatened with either mild or severe punishment for playing with a forbidden toy, which of the following situations would make a child most want to play with a toy?
A) Giving the child a toy as one of many possible choices
B) Forbidding the child to play with the toy and threatening severe punishment if he does
C) Forbidding the child to play with the toy and threatening mild punishment if she does
D) Telling the child to share the toy with a friend

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Aronson and Carlsmith's research, threatening severe punishment for playing with a forbidden toy actually increases a child's desire to play with it. Therefore, forbidding the child to play with the toy and threatening severe punishment if he does would make the child most want to play with the toy.

Based on Research by Aronson and Carlsmith (1963) in Which