The Marshmallow Test

Walter Mischel is a benefactor of humankind.  By that I mean more than just giving marshmallows and Oreos to appreciative preschoolers.  His decades of research into self-control have had an immeasurable impact on the developing field of positive psychology.  The “marshmallow test” in particular is cited constantly in books, articles, and various TV shows; he’s even influenced Cookie Monster on Sesame Street.  I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the “marshmallow test” is only the beginning, and that as much as I had heard about this groundbreaking experiment, it was really only an appetizer.  It’s a terrific, funny, and thought-provoking book.

Marshmallows are revolting, as I’m sure everyone agrees, and I always thought, “Oh, I could resist a marshmallow all day and all night.”  I have a lot of grit and I’m extremely stubborn.  If there was a prize or cash on the line I’d still be there four days later, just to make sure I held the record in perseverance.  I’d love to tell myself that I have total self-control.  As a middle-aged person, I know better.  Where we cave and allow ourselves complete leeway varies by individual temptation.  I don’t give a care about food “treats” but I am almost completely powerless against books.  I tried not reading books for a month and it was so depressing and awful that I’d never do it again.  I also have a terrible time admitting that my news queue or to-be-read stack is past capacity.  What would I have to recast in my identity to feel less hot temptation around the printed page?
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The introduction to The Marshmallow Test cites Adam and Eve in the Bible.  Lack of self-control is our original sin.  It seems that developing control of our emotions and impulses may be what separates us from other primates.  I often wonder what chimps could do if they weren’t constantly distracted by interpersonal drama, and that of course raises the question whether humans hamper our achievements in the same way.

A fascinating point that Mischel cites is Carol Dweck’s research around willpower.  Not everyone’s self-control is diminished after a so-called depleting experience.  It depends on whether the person believes that certain types of experience deplete energy or willpower.  This clicks and feels highly relevant to me.  On a daily basis, I hear people saying they wish they had more willpower or motivation or that they can’t deprive themselves.  It’s a story people latch on to that helps them bond with others who feel the same way.  I think it’s also a self-fulfilling prophecy.  We have to believe that the rewards of waiting and deferred gratification are better than the rewards of immediacy.  Most of us probably aren’t convinced.

There is a mathematical formula in Chapter 19 that explains why procrastination feels like a rational act.  I won’t spoil it, but it was a jaw-dropper for me.  It helps to address Dr. Tim Pychyl’s point about why a rational person would behave irrationally by choosing something as the most important and valuable course of action, and then deliberately avoid doing that thing.  Behavioral economics is rapidly assembling a body of research that explains this pretty clearly.

The Marshmallow Test is an excellent book that was worth the wait.  It explores the current research around self-control.  It goes beyond this to practical applications for everyday life.  Don’t deprive yourself; read it right away.

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