Preference for delay-associated cues: Cognitive dissonance?

Abstract

Eighteen albino rats were given 96 trials in a runway during which delay-box cues were differentially paired with 2-, 10-, and 30-sec reinforcement delays. The animals then received 18 paired-comparison trials, in a Y-maze, where they were exposed to the three possible pairings of the delay-associated cues. It was found that the animals chose the 2-sec cue significantly more often when paired with either the 15- or 30-sec delay. There was no difference in the frequency of choice for the 10- and 30-sec pairing. Results were discussed with reference to Festinger’s “cognitive dissonance” theory, which predicts a preference for cues associated with longer delays.