First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

filed in Daily Life

Is Delaying Gratification a Marker for Success?

March 21, 2011 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

I’m not sure what compelled me today to re-read Jonah Lehrer’s fascinating piece about self control, and it’s ability to predict success in life. I’m not convinced it was a good idea. Lehrer recounts a famous marshmallow test, in which four-year-olds are given a choice between having one marshmallow right now, or getting two, if they can wait a few minutes before eating it. These children were tracked through the years, and it was discovered that the ones who weren’t able to delay gratification did worse on standardized tests, had a higher body mass index and were more likely to have a problem with drugs. I thought back to my one-night stands, and wondered if there’s a correlation with the current state of my romantic life. On second thought, I need some ice cream.

Image: Steve Lambert

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