1 Testing for Cognitive Dissonance Evidence from Children By

In a recent paper, Egan, Santos and Bloom (2007) report from an experiment which they claim provides evidence for cognitive dissonance among preschoolers. The subjects are given a choice between two alternatives (two different stickers) that the subjects previously have given the same rating of liking. The subjects are then given the choice between the unchosen sticker and a third sticker that was originally also given the same rating. The children preferred the third sticker over the unchosen one, which Egan et al interpreted as a reduction in the liking of the unchosen sticker, i.e. as evidence for cognitive dissonance. In this article I argue that the two alternatives should not be viewed as equally attractive, in spite of the previous equal rating. This implies that the preference for the third sticker is not caused by cognitive dissonance. Furthermore, I report the results from a variation to their experiment that supports my argument