Have you ever heard of The Marshmallow Test?
The test gets its name from a study that was done at Stanford University in the 1960s. Researchers took 4 year olds, and told the children that they would have a treat right now that they really wanted (candy, cookie, or in this case, a marshmallow), but if they waited while the researcher left the room for 15 minutes, then they could have 2 treats when they came back. Its a test of self-control, and the researchers found that only 30% of the 600 kids that they tested could wait until the researchers got back.
The results are hilarious. Cute cherub faces using all forms of self restraint trying not to devour the marshmallows in front of them. I strongly recommend watching this video. My sister is a psych major and we were in stitches after watching this.
What do you think your kids/siblings/cousins would do if they were put to the test? Rise to the challenge and wait to get the extra treat, or succumb to the temptation of a nice fluffy marshmallow?
Those were cute, Amanda. I love the little strawberry blonde – the woman wasn’t even out of the room yet and she was already wolfing. That would have been me. 🙂 ~babskitchen~