The following illustration underscores the vital nature of self-control in this ‘me’ society in which we live. Have you ever heard of the Marshmallow Experiment? This experiment tried to show the essence of emotional self-regulation as the ability to delay impulse in the service of a goal. The importance of this trait to success was demonstrated in an experiment begun in the 1960s by psychologist Walter Mischel at a preschool on the Stanford University campus. Children were told that they could have a single treat, such as a marshmallow, right now.

However, if they would wait while the experimenter ran an errand, they could have two marshmallows. Some preschoolers grabbed the marshmallow immediately, but others could wait what, for them, must have seemed an endless 20 minutes. To sustain themselves in their struggle, they covered their eyes so they wouldn’t see the temptation, rested their heads on their arms, talked to themselves, sang, even tried to sleep. These plucky kids got the two-marshmallow reward. The exciting part of this experiment came in the follow-up.

The children who, as 4-year-olds had been able to wait for the two marshmallows, were, as adolescents, still able to delay gratification in pursuing their goals. They were more socially competent and self-assertive and better able to cope with life’s frustrations. In contrast, the kids who grabbed the one marshmallow were, as adolescents, more likely to be stubborn, indecisive, and stressed.¹ A simple experiment, profound results — Why Self-Control Is Your Ultimate Ticket to Success, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Laughing Your Way to Maturity

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