The Marshmallow Test

Several years ago, I read of one of the most intriguing behavioral studies ever.

It was led by a Stanford researcher by the name of Walter Mischel. Mischel studied four year olds at Stanford University’s Bing Nursery School. He studied more than 500 children to see how they could handle willpower.

During the tests, children were offered one of three treats. They could have a pretzel, a cookie, or a marshmallow. As a part of the test, the children were told that the researcher had to leave for fifteen minutes, but if they could wait to eat their treat until the researcher returned they would get two treats.

Through the years parents have laughed and enjoyed watching the taped responses of their children as they tried to wait until the researcher returned.

Some children never even tried. They wanted to quit the experiment as soon as they heard the rules. Others found creative ways to keep them from eating the treat. They closed their eyes, pulled their own hair, and turned away from the treat. Some children hovered over the marshmallows and even caressed them!

On average, the children waited three minutes. Only three out of ten were able to delay their gratification until the researcher returned.

As Mischel studied these children in later years, he learned astounding information. He found the children who could delay gratification fared better–often much better–than those who could not.

You and I face the same kind of hurdles. We often substitute the quick, easy, and momentary for the meaningful and eternal. No wonder Scripture tells us to “wait on the Lord.”

Jesus commended those who take the effort to build their lives on a firm foundation. Those who take the easy path will experience pain in the future.

God wants us to trust Him. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” He wants us to let Him bless us as we wait upon the Lord and trust Him with our lives.

We all know this truth: “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

Could you pass “the Marshmallow Test?”

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3 Responses

  1. Waylon,

    On a short invitation, I spoke to about 100 kids at a St. Paul’s Leadership Breakfast this morning. Not knowing what to expect or what they wanted me to say I used your “Marshmallow Test” message this morning as a basis for a talk on forming a foundation for their lives. Everything fell into place and the talk went well as I attempted to have them think about the relationship between where they are now and where they need to be, both from a well-being purpose and as a Christian person. Thanks for the timely message.

    Lee

  2. Your blog today made me think of this quote I like: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”-Missionary Jim Elliot

  3. I once heard a well known pastor at a summer youth camp define maturity as “the ability to postpone pleasure.” Hopefully we become more mature with age, but his quote really put into perspective that maturity (and immaturity) has little to do with age. Not sure I’ve ever heard a better practical definition.

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