Delaying Gratification Doubles The Reward

Is it worth the wait?

Reflection Questions

1. Do you consider yourself a patient person, an impatient person, or an impulsive person? Give situational examples for each.

For example: You may be more patient at work, but not at home. You may be able to control your impulses when it comes to food, but not when it comes to yelling at your spouse or children.

delay now later

2. Identify a time in your life where delayed gratification led to a superior outcome over immediate gratification.

For example: Saving money for a house versus buying impulse purchases on Cyber Monday. Working 2 jobs to pay for college tuition versus going out with friends every weekend night. Working out to strengthen your mental and physical health versus watching tv all day.

gratification

3. Which factors determine your ability to be patient in challenging situations?

For example: faith, trust, comfort, financial security, long-term vision, full stomach, good night’s sleep.

patience

Inspiration for this Post

The Stanford marshmallow experiment was a study on delayed gratification in 1972 led by psychologist Walter Mischel, a professor at Stanford University.[1]

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In this study, a child was offered a choice between one small but immediate reward, or two small rewards if they waited for period of time. During this time, the researcher left the room for about 15 minutes and then returned.

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The reward was either a marshmallow or pretzel stick, depending on the child’s preference. In follow-up studies, the researchers found that children who were able to wait longer for the preferred rewards tended to have better life outcomes, as measured by SAT scores,[2] educational attainment,[3] body mass index (BMI),[4] and other life measures.

Original Source: Click Here

Don’t forget to share your insights & reflections in the comments below!

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Video of Blog Post → Click Here

15 thoughts on “Delaying Gratification Doubles The Reward

Add yours

    1. Thank you for sharing Eliza!

      Your examples identified 2 key determinants of the ability to delay gratification:

      1. Social Conditioning

      2. Physiological State

      3. I share a 3rd variable “Trust & Faith” in the video below:

      Let me know how this ^ relates to your own life.

      Andrea

  1. This is such an important lesson, Andrea. Currently trying to lose weight and it is important to keep this is the forefront of my mind. Love that marshmallow experiment.

      1. VJ: I also wanted to add… look to other areas of your life where you have incredible discipline and self-control as reminders that you are truly incredibly strong at delaying gratification. Just not in all ways. (Me: Chocolate is forbidden in my household… no joke… it is my kryptonite) 😉 🙂

      1. LOVE LOVE LOVE you answers!

        I am patient with strangers.
        Impatient with people I love.

        I am impulsive in saying yes when I want to say no.
        Except with my husband. lol… He hears no often. 😉

        I am patient with my dreams.
        Impatient with other people following through on their dreams.

        I have incredible self-control when it comes to money.
        I have zero self-control / impulsive x 100 when it comes to chocolate.

        This is fun!
        Thank you Dr. G for playing along.

        It’s a great reminder that we aren’t “all things” all the time.
        Shades of grey 😉

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