About Willpower and strategies to boost it

Ajay0 · Jul 26, 2022

An informative article by Darcy Pittman on willpower and strategies, healthy behavioral practices to boost it.

Everything You Need to Know About Willpower - Talkspace

An excerpt...

Psychologist Walter Mischel conducted groundbreaking research on willpower in 1972 with his famous marshmallow test. This study, conducted at Stanford University, tested the willpower of preschoolers based on their ability to delay gratification in eating a marshmallow. The children were left alone with one marshmallow, with the promise of two marshmallows if they did not eat the one on their plate until the proctor came back.

Some children ate their marshmallow quickly when left alone, unable to exert the self-control necessary to hold out for the greater reward of two marshmallows. Others, however, were able to delay gratification and waited to eat the marshmallow in front of them, knowing they’d get to eat two marshmallows when finally allowed to indulge.

Mischel was able to show that people have different levels of willpower starting from a young age. He went even further with his findings 12 years later. Looking at the same children he first studied with the marshmallow test, Mischel found that their preschool level of willpower predicted their behavioral and achievement success 12 years later. Those who showed the ability to delay gratification had higher SAT scores and fewer behavioral problems than their marshmallow-hungry counterparts. Mischel’s research showed how willpower correlates with positive long-term life outcomes in profound ways.
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I would like to add here that I think modern lifestyle with its emphasis on fast food, remote control and credit cards is perhaps reducing the individual's ability to delay gratification or exercise patience, which can promote unhealthy behavioral practices that can be inimical to professional productivity and personal relations.

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