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LuckyGuy's avatar

Are the kind of person who eats the one marshmallow now or do you wait and have two later?

Asked by LuckyGuy (43691points) July 7th, 2011

(Paraphrasing from Wiki) -The Stanford marshmallow experiment was a study on deferred gratification. The experiment was conducted in 1972 by psychologist Walter Mischel of Stanford University. The experiment has been repeated many times since, and the original study at Stanford has been regarded as one of the most successful behavioral experiments in predicting future success. In the study, a marshmallow was offered to each child. If the child could resist eating the marshmallow, he was promised two instead of one. The scientists analyzed how long each child resisted the temptation of eating the marshmallow, and whether or not doing so had an effect on their future success. The results provided researchers with great insight on the psychology of self control.

So, what type of person are you? Do you eat one now or wait for two? Have you done this with experiment with anyone you know?
I’m the kind of guy who tries to sign up for the study twice so I can get 4 marshmallows later.

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11 Answers

marinelife's avatar

Well, actually, I don’t like marshmallows so I would have no trouble holding onto one to get two, but other things . . .

lucillelucillelucille's avatar

I saw that years ago!
I would most likely have waited as a child,now I am not sure how much time I have left! XD

LuckyGuy's avatar

Clearly I wait. There are so many examples in the adult world that fit it.
Buying something on credit now vs. waiting until you have the cash.
Living in a small home until you have saved enough to buy a bigger one.
Staying in school to get a degree to get a good job or just quitting and partying.

It is an interesting concept.

lucillelucillelucille's avatar

I know someone who fits the type who would not wait.Her three children are exactly the same way too :)

thorninmud's avatar

I do love this experiment and what it reveals about us. As for me, one would be plenty, thank you very much.

ucme's avatar

I stuff two in my gob at once, that way I can do my Godfather impression.
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

aprilsimnel's avatar

Ugh, marshmallows.

I would wait to get two Cadbury bars, though! I could eat one then and save the other for later!

Nimis's avatar

Eat half now.
Save the other half for later.
One is plenty. Thanks.

SpatzieLover's avatar

I do not like marshmallows at all. I’d have none. A few experiments have used M&M’s…I’d have waited for the larger amount when I was a kid. I’m no dummy!

YARNLADY's avatar

I hate marshmallows. Talk about bacon – that’s my downfall.

LuckyGuy's avatar

Bacon and M&Ms. Now that puts a new spin on it. I wonder if the results would be different is there was a dollar bill on the table.

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