EP174: Delayed Gratification's Role in Success - The Marshmallow Experiment

The Define Success Podcast with Matt Lupi

In this episode of the Define Success Podcast, host Matt Lupi delves into the Marshmallow Experiment, a cornerstone of psychological research that continues to offer profound insights into human behavior and success. Originally conducted over six years with hundreds of children, this fascinating study presented youngsters with a tantalizing choice: enjoy one marshmallow immediately or wait fifteen minutes for a doubly sweet reward. The children who demonstrated the ability to delay gratification not only scored higher on cognitive tests, coped better with stress, and achieved higher SAT scores but also laid the groundwork for a successful future.

Fast forward to 2018, a groundbreaking follow-up study with over 900 participants shed new light on the enduring impact of socio-economic factors, such as affluence and poverty, on a child's capacity for self-control. Intriguingly, despite assumptions that our digital age might erode our patience, subsequent replications of the experiment have shown an increase in the duration children are willing to delay gratification. Could it be that modern technology and the ability to think more abstractly are actually enhancing our executive functions, including self-control?

Join Matt as he explores the significance of these findings and provides actionable strategies for improving our own ability to delay gratification. From satisfying basic needs and setting long-term goals to developing a supportive network and mastering distraction techniques, this episode is packed with insights and tips for anyone looking to harness the power of patience for personal and professional success. Whether it's choosing $100 today or $500 next month, or saying no to a cheat meal in favor of fitness goals, learning to delay gratification is, as M. Scott Peck eloquently put it, "the only decent way to live." Tune in to discover how you can apply the lessons of the marshmallow test to define and achieve your own success.