Walter Mischel, a psychologist has conducted an experiment on children as well as adults to understand about self-control. Self-control means to control oneself for their own benefit. His test of determining self-control has been very successful in his field of research. The test is known as the “Marshmallow test” in which a child has been seated in a room by a researcher and is given one marshmallow. He then is asked to not eat the marshmallow until the researcher comes back in the room, if he does so he will be rewarded with one more marshmallow. The same kind of experiment was performed on them after certain years when they were in their adolescent period.
Based on the test result of children, Walter Mischel determines a “hot-and-cool” system …show more content…
Like when a child is taught something in his early period of life, it is more likely for him to remember, because in childhood a child’s mind is easy to mold. It is very unlikely for a child to forget what 2+2 is equal to in his future. In the similar way, it is very unlikely for a child to forget certain behavior or lifestyle skills he was taught in childhood when he becomes an adult. Mischel completely overlooked other aspects like living style, behavior, attitude while considering hot and cool system. If a child lives in a house where he has to grab whatever there is to eat before someone else does it, because if he is not fast enough he doesn’t eat at all such children are bound to eat the marshmallow as soon as they get it because they believe if they don’t take it right now, they might not get it after the researcher comes. When Celeste Kidd visited a homeless shelter, she said that “There were lots of kids staying with their families. Everyone shared one big area, so keeping personal possessions safe was difficult. When one child got a toy or treat, there was a real risk of a bigger, faster kid taking it away. . .” Thus, this child is going to continue doing it even when he is an adult, he lives in a constant fear of not able to get something just because he couldn’t grab it in the first chance. This does not show his impulsive decision; this shows his lack of ability to trust
Based on the test result of children, Walter Mischel determines a “hot-and-cool” system …show more content…
Like when a child is taught something in his early period of life, it is more likely for him to remember, because in childhood a child’s mind is easy to mold. It is very unlikely for a child to forget what 2+2 is equal to in his future. In the similar way, it is very unlikely for a child to forget certain behavior or lifestyle skills he was taught in childhood when he becomes an adult. Mischel completely overlooked other aspects like living style, behavior, attitude while considering hot and cool system. If a child lives in a house where he has to grab whatever there is to eat before someone else does it, because if he is not fast enough he doesn’t eat at all such children are bound to eat the marshmallow as soon as they get it because they believe if they don’t take it right now, they might not get it after the researcher comes. When Celeste Kidd visited a homeless shelter, she said that “There were lots of kids staying with their families. Everyone shared one big area, so keeping personal possessions safe was difficult. When one child got a toy or treat, there was a real risk of a bigger, faster kid taking it away. . .” Thus, this child is going to continue doing it even when he is an adult, he lives in a constant fear of not able to get something just because he couldn’t grab it in the first chance. This does not show his impulsive decision; this shows his lack of ability to trust