50 Years Ago, These Preschoolers Predicted the COVID-19 Crisis
How the United States is failing the Marshmallow Test
In the early 1970s, three Stanford psychologists conducted an experiment with 50 preschool-aged children. In the experiment, they led the children into a room where there was a single marshmallow on a table for each of them. The experimenters told the children they could eat their marshmallow immediately, or wait 15 minutes and be rewarded with a second marshmallow. To avoid the temptation of the first treat, many of the children covered their eyes, made up songs, or tried to fall asleep. For some, these inventive displays of willpower proved fruitful — they were able to stave off desire until the 15 minutes were up and they could then enjoy both treats. For others, even the added distraction of a slinky toy was not enough; they eventually gave in and ate the single marshmallow.
The purpose of the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment was to understand delayed gratification, or the process by which an individual forgoes a small immediate award in preference for a later, larger reward. Within itself, the ability to delay gratification is an important life skill and, as we grow up and move into adulthood, similar “marshmallow” scenarios often present themselves. Go to the movies and skip studying now or get into a good college…
