An introduction to Marshmallow Test. The Stanford marshmallow experiment[1] refers to a series of studies on deferred gratification in the late 1960s and early 1970s led by psychologist Walter Mischel then a professor at Stanford University.

2. A simple Self-Control Test
Presenter:
Ahmad Haghighi haghighi.ahmad@gmail.com
IT Student, Faculty of Electronics & Computer, University of Birjand.
March 2012

3. Introduction History
• Began in 1960
• By Stanford psychology professor Walter Mischel
• 4-6 years old children
• Continued after 16-18 years later. (when the children graduated
from high school)

4. If you could
eat one marshmallow right now,
or two marshmallows after
waiting 15 minutes, which one
would you pick?

5. Step 1 of 6
 Set your child up in an area with a chair, a
table, and one marshmallow.
In the academic experiment, researchers hid
behind a two way mirror. You can accomplish
the same thing with a video camera or
a webcam in your computer.

6. Step 2 of 6
 Tell your child the rules of the test:
You will put one marshmallow on the table and
leave the room to "do a short errand." He/she is
welcome to eat the marshmallow while you are
gone. However, if you return from your errand and
he/she hasn't eaten the marshmallow, you will
reward him/her with an additional marshmallow.

7. Step 3 of 6
 Leave the room once the child understands
that he/she either gets to eat one
marshmallow now or two later.

8. Step 4 of 6
 Wait.
In the actual experiment, the psychologists
waited up to 20 minutes to see if the children
could resist the temptation. However, in this fun
version of the test, most parents will prefer to
only wait 2-5 minutes.
Most of times we wait 15 minuets.

9. Step 5 of 6
 Return and reward the child with an extra
marshmallow if deserved.
Allow them to now eat both marshmallows.
Explain that you are proud of them for being
patient. If they ate the marshmallow while you
were gone, try to use the moment for teaching
about delayed gratification.

10. Step 6 of 6
 Enjoy watching the video recording of the
test with your whole family, and with the
child when he or she gets older.
The kids will enjoy seeing their reaction
regardless of how the test goes.

11. Marshmallow Test
• Tested in USA, Brazil, Japan, Korea and …
• Of the 600 participants, only about 200 (one-
third) were able to wait the 15 minutes to claim
the two marshmallows
• Scientific American reports another study
following 1000 children for 30 years which found
that...

12. Predicting Kids' Success
Those who were able to wait for the second
marshmallow were much more likely to be:
• well-behaved in school
• significantly higher SAT scores
• healthier
• more financially secure
• lower crime rates

13. Why?
The reason is that self control helps us to work
towards desirable longer term goals that might
not be appealing in the short term, and
conversely to avoid appealing actions in the
short term that might lead to undesirable
outcomes in the long term.
e.g. it’s application in Sale.

14. Most important factor for success
Ability to
• Delay Gratification
• Self Control
• Self Discipline

15. My Research!
Marshmallow Test in Iran

16. Video Deleted for easy download
Please Visit:
http://www.ted.com/talks/joachim
_de_posada_says_don_t_eat_the_
marshmallow_yet.html

17. • Video Deleted For easy download
• Video Link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-
6419289.html

19. W. B .Yeats

21. Reference
1. http://www.sybervision.com/Discipline/marshmallow.htm
2. http://www.wikihow.com/Give-the-Marshmallow-Test
3. http://sivers.org/time
4. http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/06/the-secrets-of-self-control-the-
marshmallow-test-40-years-later/