How marshmallows predict success and what is marshmallow test?

One of the most famous pieces of social-science research is the marshmallow test.

How does it work?

Mentor places a marshmallow (or any other favorite sweet of your child) in front on the table and explains, that she/he can have a second one if she/he can wait 15 minutes without eating the first one, and then leaves the room. Whether your child is patient enough to double her/his payout is supposedly indicative of a willpower that will pay dividends down the line, at school and eventually later in career. Passing the test and getting the second marshmallow is a promising signal of future success. It is always interesting and fun to analyze child’s behavior while waiting time, which can be filmed and developed further. Edited video can be used as an absolutely amazing addition to your child’s 16 th or 18 th birthday gift!

Watch this interesting video by Michio Kaku / Goalcast

How to become better at delaying gratification?

A huge part of growing up is learning how to delay gratification, that predicts future achievements and success in life, however keep in mind that human behaviour and life in general is a lot more complex than that, so let’s not pretend that one choice a four-year-old child makes will determine the rest of his or her life.

The key here is that even if you don’t feel like you’re good at delaying gratification now, you can train yourself to become better simply by making a few small improvements. You can train your ability to delay gratification, just like you can train your muscles in the gym. And you can do it in the same way as the child and the researcher in the Marshmallow experiment: by promising something small and getting it rather later than right away. Over and over again until your brain says: yes, it’s worth it to wait and yes, I have the capability to do this.

Good luck!