Stanford marshmallow experiment: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:30, 16 February 2025

Stanford Marshmallow Experiment[edit]

Marshmallows, the treat used in the experiment

The Stanford marshmallow experiment was a series of studies on delayed gratification in the late 1960s and early 1970s led by psychologist Walter Mischel, then a professor at Stanford University. The experiment was designed to understand the processes involved in delayed gratification and how it might relate to future success.

Methodology[edit]

The experiment involved children aged 4 to 6 years old who were given a choice between one small reward provided immediately or two small rewards if they waited for a short period, approximately 15 minutes, during which the tester left the room and then returned. The reward was often a marshmallow, but sometimes a cookie or pretzel was used.

Procedure[edit]

Children were individually seated at a table in a room with a single marshmallow placed in front of them. The experimenter told the child that they could eat the marshmallow immediately, but if they waited until the experimenter returned, they would receive a second marshmallow. The experimenter then left the room for about 15 minutes and observed the child’s behavior through a one-way mirror.

Results[edit]

The results of the experiment showed that children who were able to wait longer for the preferred rewards tended to have better life outcomes as measured by various life measures, including SAT scores, educational attainment, and other life measures. This suggested that the ability to delay gratification was an important predictor of future success.

Implications[edit]

The Stanford marshmallow experiment has been widely cited in both popular and academic literature as an example of the importance of self-control and delayed gratification. It has influenced research in psychology, education, and economics, and has been used to support the idea that self-control can be a critical factor in achieving personal and professional goals.

Criticisms[edit]

Some critics have argued that the experiment's findings may not be as robust as initially thought. Subsequent studies have suggested that the ability to delay gratification is influenced by a variety of factors, including the child’s social and economic background, and that the original study may not have adequately accounted for these variables.

Related pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Stanford Marshmallow Experiment'''
+== Stanford Marshmallow Experiment ==
-The '''Stanford Marshmallow Experiment''' was a series of studies on delayed gratification in the late 1960s and early 1970s led by psychologist [[Walter Mischel]], then a professor at [[Stanford University]]. In these studies, a child was offered a choice between one small but immediate reward, or two small rewards if they waited for a period of time. During this time, the researcher left the room for about 15 minutes and then returned. The reward was usually a marshmallow, but sometimes a cookie or a pretzel. The delay period was an opportunity to study at what age children develop self-control and how this willpower correlates with future success.
+[[File:Marshmallows.JPG|thumb|right|Marshmallows, the treat used in the experiment]]
-==Procedure==
+The '''Stanford marshmallow experiment''' was a series of studies on delayed gratification in the late 1960s and early 1970s led by psychologist [[Walter Mischel]], then a professor at [[Stanford University]]. The experiment was designed to understand the processes involved in delayed gratification and how it might relate to future success.
-In the experiment, children were led into a room, empty of distractions, where a treat of their choice (a marshmallow, cookie, or pretzel) was placed on a table. The researcher told each child that they could eat the treat, but if they waited for the researcher to return without eating it, they would receive a second treat. The researcher then left the room for approximately 15 minutes. The choice was thus to have a smaller reward immediately or a larger reward later. The researchers then observed the behavior of the child through a one-way mirror.
-==Findings==
+== Methodology ==
-Mischel's experiments found that children who were able to wait longer for the preferred rewards tended to have better life outcomes, as measured by SAT scores, educational attainment, body mass index (BMI), and other life measures. The original study at Stanford has been followed up by several longitudinal studies, and the ability to delay gratification has been linked to a number of positive outcomes in adulthood.
-==Criticism and Replication==
+The experiment involved children aged 4 to 6 years old who were given a choice between one small reward provided immediately or two small rewards if they waited for a short period, approximately 15 minutes, during which the tester left the room and then returned. The reward was often a [[marshmallow]], but sometimes a cookie or pretzel was used.
-The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment has been subject to criticism and scrutiny over the years. Critics argue that the study's findings have been overstated and that subsequent replications have not always found the same strong correlations between delayed gratification and life success. Additionally, some researchers have pointed out that factors such as the child's social and economic background can influence their ability to delay gratification, suggesting that the experiment measures not just innate self-control but also the impact of environmental factors.
-==Legacy==
+== Procedure ==
-Despite the criticisms, the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment remains a landmark study in psychology, particularly in the areas of [[developmental psychology]], [[personality psychology]], and [[social psychology]]. It has sparked numerous discussions and further research into the nature of willpower, self-control, and their development. The experiment is frequently referenced in both academic and popular discussions on the importance of delayed gratification and self-discipline.
-==See Also==
+Children were individually seated at a table in a room with a single marshmallow placed in front of them. The experimenter told the child that they could eat the marshmallow immediately, but if they waited until the experimenter returned, they would receive a second marshmallow. The experimenter then left the room for about 15 minutes and observed the child’s behavior through a one-way mirror.
+== Results ==
+The results of the experiment showed that children who were able to wait longer for the preferred rewards tended to have better life outcomes as measured by various life measures, including [[SAT]] scores, educational attainment, and other life measures. This suggested that the ability to delay gratification was an important predictor of future success.
+== Implications ==
+The Stanford marshmallow experiment has been widely cited in both popular and academic literature as an example of the importance of self-control and delayed gratification. It has influenced research in [[psychology]], [[education]], and [[economics]], and has been used to support the idea that self-control can be a critical factor in achieving personal and professional goals.
+== Criticisms ==
+Some critics have argued that the experiment's findings may not be as robust as initially thought. Subsequent studies have suggested that the ability to delay gratification is influenced by a variety of factors, including the child’s social and economic background, and that the original study may not have adequately accounted for these variables.
+== Related pages ==
+* [[Walter Mischel]]
 * [[Delayed gratification]]
 * [[Self-control]]
-* [[Walter Mischel]]
+* [[Psychology]]
+{{Psychology}}
 [[Category:Psychology experiments]]
 [[Category:Stanford University]]
-[[Category:Developmental psychology]]
-{{Psychology-stub}}