Posted on 12/10/2025 7:15:10 AM PST by PeterPrinciple
The Original Marshmallow Experiment
The Marshmallow Experiment began in the late 1960s and early 1970s at Stanford University, led by psychologist Walter Mischel and his colleagues (Mischel et al., 1972). The setup was famously simple: a child was placed at a table with a marshmallow (or sometimes a cookie or pretzel). The researcher explained that the child could eat the marshmallow immediately, but if they waited until the researcher returned—usually around 15 minutes—they would receive a second marshmallow.
The children’s reactions ranged from hilarious to heartbreaking. Some covered their eyes. Some sang to themselves. Some sniffed, stroked, or poked the marshmallow as if trying to absorb its essence without technically breaking the rules. And, yes, plenty of kids just went ahead and gobbled it down
But what made the study groundbreaking was not what happened in the moment—it was what happened years later.
........................................
A pivotal study by Watts, Duncan, and Quan (2018) re-examined the data using a much larger and more diverse sample. Their findings suggested that when you account for variables such as family background, socioeconomic status, and early cognitive ability, the marshmallow-waiting effect becomes significantly smaller.
In other words, a child’s ability to wait wasn’t just about personal grit. It also depended heavily on:
How much the child trusted adults to follow through Whether food scarcity was an issue at home How stable or unpredictable their environment was Their previous life experiences Kids aren’t irrational. If your environment teaches you that promises often go unfulfilled, why would you trust that waiting brings reward? If food is not always guaranteed, eating now is a smart strategy.
I see so many comments here that show, conservatives want their lollipop NOW. That attitude is going to be our demise.
It is important to understand basic human nature. How it is used against and how it is used for us.
For example. Imprinting is part of God's design for good, to absorb a good family life and pass it on. Perverts use it for bad, that is why they want the children. If you don't know what imprinting is, do some research.
This reference on a quick search had less wokeness than many. Find the bits of truth and you do more research.
Trump has a long term plan, not a quick fix. See the bits of the long term plan in everything he does, it is there.
The media wants you to see failures and discredit him. AND SO MANY HERE LISTEN TO THE MEDIA AND REPEAT IT. NOTE THAT REPEAT IT PART.
So many here look like the kids in the marshmallow experiment. Stop it! BE ADULTS.
MAGA
I’m not sure I fully understand what you’re saying?
I see your point and wholeheartedly agree with you..Pres Trump does have the plan!
What is most frustrating is the lack of prosecutions by the FBI/ JUSTICR DEPTfor those who are truly criminaals.
Day after days we hear of blatant criminality such as Tish Jjames...or those from the prev admin and NO ONE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE
I’m not sure I fully understand what you’re saying?
Read it, read it slowly and let your lips move.
Read it again.
print it out, put it on the wall and think about it.
do some more research.
IMHO that's a fair point. Here's an equally fair point: Us conservatives have been sold a bill of goods in the past with nothing to show for it. Often at best the Republicans would reclaim some, but not all, of the ground lost to Dims when the Dims were in charge, only for the Dims to retake more when the Dims were back in power.
But I agree with the overall premise that Trump has earned our respect. We shouldn't knee-jerkingly fuss at every small problem we think we see from Trump. Save that for the open borders Bushites.
Everyone looks up to the Greatest Generation. Those people went through the Great Depression and WWII. They buckled down, made sacrifices, were prepared to risk everything for a better future. And things were better after the struggles were past.
What we need is a generation that will also make sacrifices and put up with a bad situation in order to make a better future. But I don’t think we have that in us. Hey, let other people make sacrifices. I want what I have coming. Why should I suffer? I’m entitled to have a good time right now.
We often talk about Europe and how they lost their best people in WWI and then lost the next best people in WWII. Europe never recovered and today does not seem to have enough strong men in order to survive. Europe seems to be done for.
But in the grand scheme of things, is the US really in a better situation?
Everyone looks up to the Greatest Generation. Those people went through the Great Depression and WWII. They buckled down, made sacrifices, were prepared to risk everything for a better future. And things were better after the struggles were past.
Hard Times make Good Men
Good Men make Good Times
Good Times make Weak Men
Weak Men make Hard Times
Day after days we hear of blatant criminality such as Tish Jjames...or those from the prev admin and NO ONE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE
You prove my point, you want your lollipop now.
Things like this move slowly. Do you know how how many things are on Trumps plate? You would have a break down after one day maybe less. You would freeze after you thought about the complexity of just one of his decisions.
But in the grand scheme of things, is the US really in a better situation?
Jesus sent his disciples out with a true message. What is that message? Talk to everyone, but camp at the one person who had some ears. Find his sheep.
Folks, go and do likewise. Find the one person who wants to learn. MAGA
If food is not always guaranteed, eating now is a smart strategy.
We have seen, time and again, that the lollipop promised by electing Republicans has not been forthcoming.
You just want to get away with lying your ass off to get elected and then developing sudden amnesia syndrome once in a position to make goo on those campaign promises.
Not to highjack the thread, but the WW2 generation was not “The Greatest Generation”. That title belongs to the Revolution and then the Civil War. The WW2 vets voted for FDR, Truman, JFK, LBJ and any other SOB promising something for nothing. They gave us abortion on demand, infinite welfare, nanny government, the fiasco of Vietnam, and most of the troubles that plague the nation today. Their post post war voting record eclipsed their service decades ago.
The trouble with a long term plan is that it is long term.
Most people want to see results soon.
Long term
Plans tend to get voted down, or out.
The closer to instant gratification, the more popular it’ll be.
Like it or not. Even in the wild, catching today’s prey for dinner now was the way of life.
Not to highjack the thread, but the WW2 generation was not “The Greatest Generation”. That title belongs to the Revolution and then the Civil War. The WW2 vets voted for FDR, Truman, JFK, LBJ and any other SOB promising something for nothing. They gave us abortion on demand, infinite welfare, nanny government, the fiasco of Vietnam, and most of the troubles that plague the nation today. Their post post war voting record eclipsed their service decades ago.
who do you think you are lecturing anyway?
I UNDERSTAND the complexity !
My post stands
The ability to delay gratification is a strength that contributes to success in life. The study noted here is an attempt to excuse those who can’t or won’t do it. The implications for social policy is clear: if you don’t have the discipline it’s not your fault, it’s just how you were raised. So it would be unfair to expect more of you. Typical of academics today.
I’d like to hitchhike on this post. I agree with the premise that the “Greatest Generation” did not vote like conservatives, in general. We got several boobs as presidents from their wishin’ and hopin’ while votin’...
For what it is worth, i also served in the US Army, according to my family’s tradition (well, one grandpa served in the Kaiser’s army) and it was lonely being conservative back then. It still is, in the general public. We don’t yet shoot back, and until that changes, the murders of anyone who emerges as a leader (Charlie) go unanswered, thus rewarding that behavior in a way that promotes more of same.
Yes, but only because they don't have refrigerators.
The crummiest gaslighting of conservatives out there. You’re to blame if you actually expected results in your lifetime.
yes, and maybe in 10 million years human nature will catch up with the invention of the refrigerator
Seems like the kids who ate the marshmallow or treat right away were either hungry or did not trust the adult. Even at a young age,: “
You can fool all of the people some of the time, and you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
A youngster who has been fooled once or twice before is not likely to be fooled again. Even today, if some stranger offered me a similar deal, like maybe a little pile of cash with the promise of more if I waited, I would take the cash now, and run.
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