ABSTRACT
The notion of choice as a mediator of dissonance processes has come to be treated as virtual magic among dissonance researchers. Quite reliably, it has been a uniquely instrumental variable in the creation of dissonance-reduction effects, especially within the sometimes perplexing forced-compliance procedure. But the discovery of choice as a crucial manipulation should in no way imply that choice bears no qualitative similarity to other variables affecting dissonance arousal. In fact, the empirical notion of “choice,” which stands for certain operations and nothing more, is directly implied by the ratio formula for dissonance arousal. This point was touched upon earlier and might be elaborated briefly.
