Offer a 4 year old child the opportunity to have a marshmallow now or a larger one later

Offer a 4 year old child the opportunity to have a marshmallow now or a larger one later if they can resist eating the first

…and a really interesting thing happens.

Some will eat it straight away,

some will sit on their hands and squirm but eventually give in.

Some will delay gratification and resist winning the reward at the end.

And it turns out that if you track these children for 30 years that those who were able to resist show better success markers all around.

They’re happier, wealthier, nicer home, better health, great holidays etc

This study looks on the surface to be a “did I get a good kid?” Study.

However, when we look at it from a neuroscience perspective we see something else.

Humans operate from what we call prediction and response.

The child has to decide in that moment,

Do I believe this grown up will be true to their word?

If yes - wait

If no - eat

The study is really a parenting study. Does this 4 year old trust people when they make a promise?

The 4 year old is only able to operate based on evidence from their life.

At 4 years all it’s black or white.

The brain is always doing what is right for us given it’s interpretation of the world.

Our “success” is determined by our world view and we can change that today one mini investigation at a time.