marshmallow test

The Marshmallow TestAlex Miller

The Marshmallow TestAlex Miller

What is it?

10 years later...

Long delayers were

more academically and socially competent

verbally fluent

rational

attentive

able to deal with frustration and stress

use and respond to reason

13 years later...

Long delayers were

better on SAT

200 points higher!

self-controlled in frustrating situations

able to resist temptation

intelligent

able to concentrate without giving in to

distraction

and beyond...

went to better schools

lower body-mass index

make more money

happier

Marshmallow testis an excellent predictor

of life success

What does this have to do with me?

Do you ever...

have trouble losing weight?

buy stuff* on credit you can’t afford?

*actual eBay item

break a New Year’s resolution?

read Twitter instead of working?

procrastinate?

We are surrounded by marshmallows*

* tweetablephrase

Is my kid screwed?

Am I screwed?

What made delayers different?

All kids struggled

Some find avoidance strategies

Don’t look.

Sing or clap

Pretend to eat

Can we teach this?

Yes*

* but might be domain-limited

Example: Turn hot stimulus into cold

Example: Turn hot stimulus into cold

Things we now know:

Marshmallows = yummyDelaying = hardSuccess in life ～ self controlCan learn tactics to delay