4B

Do you believe that a four year old child’s behavior can predict their success as an adult?

Some people may believe that, “Judging a kid's ability to delay gratification by whether they eat a marshmallow or not is a ridiculous way of predicting their future achievement,” say Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman.  After reviewing many articles based on the Marshmallow Test done by researchers in Stanford in the late 1960’s, I disagree with this quote because a child’s behavior at a young age does give insight into the type of person that they may be as an adult.  If a child is able to delay gratification and wait until the researcher returns, they will receive another marshmallow.  If they are unable to wait and eat the marshmallow to receive instant gratification, then they forfeit the second marshmallow.  A child’s behavior during the marshmallow test relates to their home life and how they are disciplined at home.  Family life as a child affects how many people act as teenagers and adults.  If a child is properly cared for and disciplined then they will most likely learn to be patient and believe that they will receive a reward.  The article entitled, “Don’t!  The Secret of Self Control” by Jonah Lehrer (The link can be found at: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/18/090518fa_fact_lehrer) describes the difference between children who did eat the marshmallow immediately and those who waited for the researcher to return.  Lehrer explains, “the children who rang the bell quickly, seemed more likely to have behavioral problems, both in school and at home. They got lower S.A.T. scores. They struggled in stressful situations, often had trouble paying attention, and found it difficult to maintain friendships. The child who could wait fifteen minutes had an S.A.T. score that was, on average, two hundred and ten points higher than that of the kid who could wait only thirty seconds.”  These results prove that a child who can pay attention, listen to an adult, follow directions, and behave properly can attain more success overall in their life because they have the necessary self control.