Kirsten created her own version of the experiment described below the video.
Overview #
The Candy Challenge explores whether restraining oneself is associated with a higher reward in the long run. In this instance, participants were offered either one marshmallow right away or two marshmallows if they waited for a period of time.
Marshmallow Experiment #
The Marshmallow Experiment involved children between 3 and 5 years of age. The experimenter presented them with a single marshmallow and told them that they could either eat it immediately or if they were able to wait for a period of time, they could have two marshmallows. Some children were able to wait and some gave in to the temptation to eat the marshmallow right away.
Key Findings #
Research found that those who were able to control their desire for the marshmallow and wait for the reward of two marshmallows, ended up with better long-term outcomes in multiple aspects of life, such as higher SAT scores, better self-control, and higher educational attainment.