Question

Define the Marshmallow test. Who did research on this phenomena? What is the significance of the Marshmallow test? How do parents contribute to a child's ability to control his or her impulses? Why is one's ability to control one's impulses important when adapting to society? Do you know anybody in your life who does not have good impulse control? Why is it difficult to be around such people?

Answer 1

The marshmallow test was done so as to study the delayed gratification in kids.

In the study, a child was offered two choices between one small but immediate gift or reward or two small gifts or rewards if they waited for some time. The room was left by the researcher for 15 minutes and then they returned the room. The gifts used was either a marshmallow or pretzel depending upon the preference of the child.

It was found in the studies that the Children who could wait longer for smaller rewards after some time tended to do better at life as they could delay the gratification and it was shown by SAT scores.

The phenomenon was first studied by Walter Mischel in 1972 and he was a psychologist at Stanford University and the study was known as Stanford Marshmallow experiment.

The significance of the testis the way it tries to study the delayed gratification in children and how they suppress and avoid the immediate reward to get two rewards only if they could wait for sometime.

A person's ability to control their impulses is very important while adapting to the society because people need to learn to delay their gratification process to be a better society member as sometimes you are surrounded by people and cannot commit impulsive action and just do whatever you feel like doing, there are certain mannerisms and things to be mindful of and then a person should know to control and gratify their impulses and instincts when it is appropriate.

People who cannot control their impulses are very impulsive in nature and can do whatever they feel like without giving any concerns to the current situations and they can make you feel embarrassed and shameful in front of others