Marshmellow Experiment
Walter Mischel - Research by RKT
SP-19_PSY3013-WA01A Psychology of Personality - D. Rutledge
...we explored the Marshmellow Test introduced by Walter Mishel.
This webpage of research is in reference to this concept and the brilliant proof that humans can be taught to change, a growth Mindset can be empowered!
Richard Kerry Thompson
Modus Operandi - RKT
by Richard Thompson - Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 11:52 PM
View at least two of the videos dealing with Mischel's theory of delayed gratification and self-control and discuss the points that stand out to you the most.
How might this concept impact learning and personality?
"The potential of human beings to develop well is within the amazing plasticity of the human brain… "These are the words that Walter Mischel spoke about on his Marshmallow Experiment in a panel interview with Eric Kandel, Alan Alda, Daniel Kahneman, Michael Shadlen, and Walter Mischel in March 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b3SWsjWzdA
In order to truly speak about the points that stand out and the impact it has on learning and personality, a description of the test must be first understood…
The Marshmallow Experiment
The experiment began by bringing each child into a private room, sitting them down in a chair, and placing a marshmallow on the table in front of them. At this point, the researcher offered a deal to the child. The researcher told the child that he was going to leave the room and that if the child did not eat the marshmallow while he was away, then they would be rewarded with a second marshmallow. However, if the child decided to eat the first one before the researcher came back, then they would not get a second marshmallow. So the choice was simple: one treat right now or two treats later. The researcher left the room for 15 minutes.
https://jamesclear.com/delayed-gratification
A few key points that stand out to me are the following…
Ages 2-5 have the capacity to delay impulses and shift attention from instant gratification to delayed gratification.
The basis of the Marshmallow Experiment is to keep a goal in mind and shift attention from instant gratification to self-discipline delay gratification
The Marshmallow Experiment was actually first used with Oreo Cookies.
The test subject (child) has the power of choice
Important thing is that it provided the experiment of desire to be tracked over a child's life.
The time that the child was able to wait in the Marshmallow test when they were 4, correlated to the discipline and delayed gratification into the aging adolescent, teens, ’20s and ’30s.
It included less tendency to obesity, drug use, and basic discipline.
The tests are indicative and predictive of a human's future of self-discipline. These are correlations, not a destiny.
The ease of which it is possible to change the mindset of delayed gratification, that is connected to how the brain works.
To change the mindset of a child is possible, by having the child picture the marshmallow as not real. This is done by using the imagination.
The real discovery is that the brain can be taught to change the instant gratification, thus changing the mindset.
Self-control is also called will power.
As Walter Mischel states in his interview he states that… "The interpretation to be taken from the findings, it is an enormously important skill and it is teachable and humans are changeable."
How might this concept impact learning and personality?
This concept of the Marshmallow experiment impacts learning and personality in a plethora of ways. It is the difference between a fixed intelligence and a growth mindset. The fact that humans can be taught techniques to empower their delayed gratification is key. Also, the fact that from this experiment, that is was proven scientifically that the more a child mastered delayed gratification the healthier the person was in their early adult and adult years in life.
In today's world of 2019, compared to the 1960s it would be interesting to see the cognitive development of a child with the technology of each era. This indeed is a challenge to all humans in the technological instant gratification world and mindset that a child is born into. The instant information, food, merchandise, and so many other things condition a human to expect it RIGHT NOW! This then is a mindset and expectation. I believe that it would be even harder today for a child, let alone an adult to match the test of children taking the test back in the 60s and 70s.
This concept then impacts learning tremendously and in regards to a personality, perhaps it could be tested to see the patience level of a child, the level of which a child actually follows direction and above all the discipline of a child to wait. “But I want it NOW !!!!!!!!!!!” says the Veruca Salt in the classic story and motion picture Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I wonder if she took the test what would happen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRTkCHE1sS4
In closing, this Marshmallow test should be given to all children ages 2 - 102. The fact is humans mind can be changed and the real gem is this was one of the first pioneers in the growth mindset phenomena by Carol Dweck today. The Modus Operandi, Method Of Operating, of a human can be changed!!!
RKT
I WANT IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MARSHMELLOW LESSON ?
self-ac·tu·al·i·za·tion
Dictionary result for self-actualization
noun
the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities, especially considered as a drive or need present in everyone.