A child is presented with a marshmallow and given a choice: Eat this one now, or wait and enjoy two later. What will she do? And what are the implications for her behavior later in life?
The Marshmallow Test was a series of experiments in which young children were given a choice: they could either eat a single marshmallow immediately, or they could wait for a period of time (usually around 15 minutes) and receive two marshmallows as a reward. The test measured the children's ability to delay gratification and exert self-control.
Mischel's research found that the ability to delay gratification at a young age was strongly correlated with various measures of success later in life, including academic achievement, health outcomes, and social relationships. However, he also discovered that self-control is not solely determined by innate traits; it can be learned and improved through practice and cognitive strategies.
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Categories: Self-Help Psychology