The Marshmallow Experiment
The Power of Delayed Gratification
Many important parts of life are worth waiting for. But how long do you think you
can wait for something that you really want? In the late 1960s, this idea about
human behavior was tested. The Marshmallow Experiment examined the ability of
preschool children to resist the urge to enjoy something that they wanted
immediately; this concept (‫ ְּתפִ יסָּׂ ה‬,‫ )מֻשָּׂ ג‬is known as instant gratification ( ,‫ ְּשבִ יעּות ָּׂרצֹון‬,‫ִסּפּוק‬
‫)הִ ְּתמֹוגְּ גּות‬. It’s named after the treat (‫ )מַ ְּמתָּׂ ק‬used as the reward in the original study.
It took place at the Bing Nursery School at Stanford University in California. Walter
Mischel and his colleagues conducted a series of experiments with over 600
children, ranging in age from three to five years old.
During this experiment, children were left in a room alone with a sweet treat in front
of them. They were given two alternatives – eat the treat in front of them
immediately or wait for 15 minutes to eat the treat. But, if they waited, the children
would be rewarded with two treats.
Even though a majority of the children indicated that they could wait, in that short
span of time, most of the group struggled. After less than 15 minutes, most of the
children gave up and ate the treat. For the lesser number of children who could
wait, they still exhibited signs of struggle. These children usually employed methods
that allowed them to avoid seeing the treat by covering their eyes, purposefully
looking elsewhere instead of at the treat, or facing away from the treat altogether.
The trial results were groundbreaking (‫ חֲלּוצִ י‬,‫ נַחְּ שֹונִי‬,‫ חַ ְּדשָּׂ נִי‬,‫ּפֹורץ דֶּ ֶּרְך‬
ֵ ). The children who
delayed their gratification by using avoidance and other tactics were significantly
less prone to obesity (‫)פחות נוטה להשמנה‬. In addition, these children were less likely to
develop addictive behavior or drug addiction. Lastly, they were able to develop
better behavioral patterns (‫)דפוסי התנהגות טובים יותר‬by the time they arrived in their teen
years that helped them stay out of trouble. Overall (‫)באופן כללי‬, the four-year-olds who
were able to delay gratification had chances of being more successful later in life
than the children who had trouble delaying their gratification.
The Marshmallow Experiment had a profound impact on psychology and society. It
has been cited as evidence for the importance of self-control and delayed
gratification in a variety of contexts, from education to personal finance to parenting.
However, the experiment has also been criticized for its limitations. Some
researchers have argued that the test is culturally biased (‫ )הטיה תרבותית‬and may not
be applicable in all contexts. Others have suggested that the test may not take into
account the effects of socioeconomic status on self-control.
In the next episode, we'll explore the work of a renowned artist who uses her craft
to challenge societal norms and shed light on the complexities of history,
particularly around race, gender, and power. Her bold and provocative approach
has sparked important conversations in the art world and beyond. Looking forward
to diving into the world of this exceptional artist with you. See you Monday!
Quotes
“Once you realize that willpower is just a matter of learning how to control your
attention and thoughts, you can really begin to increase it.” – Walter Mischel
“If you can deal with hot emotions, then you can study for the S.A.T. instead of
watching television, and you can save more money for retirement. It’s not just about
marshmallows.” – Walter Mischel
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find
strength.” – Marcus Aurelius
Recommended books
The Marshmallow Test: Mastering Self-Control by Walter Mischel
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Cultural bias ‫ תופעה‬.‫הטיה תרבותית הטיה תרבותית היא תופעה או שיפוט שלה לפי אמות המידה המקובלות בתרבות מסוימת‬
.‫ אנתרופולוגיה וסוציולוגיה‬,‫ פסיכולוגיה‬,‫ בהם כלכלה‬,‫זו נחשבת לא פעם בעיה מרכזית בתחומים שונים של מדעי הרוח והחברה‬
‫כמה מהעוסקים בתחומי דעת אלו ניסו לפתח שיטות ותאוריות לצמצום ההטיה התרבותית או לביטולה‬.