The
Marshmallow
Test
Alex Miller

The
Marshmallow
Test
Alex Miller

What is it?

10 years later...

Long delayers were

more academically and
socially competent

verbally fluent

rational

attentive

able to deal with
frustration and stress

use and respond to
reason

13 years later...

Long delayers were

better on SAT
200 points higher!

self-controlled in
frustrating situations

able to resist temptation

intelligent

able to concentrate
without giving in to
distraction

and beyond...

went to better schools

lower body-mass index

make more money

happier

Marshmallow test
is an excellent predictor
of life success

What does this have to
do with me?

Do you ever...

have trouble losing
weight?

buy stuff* on credit you
can’t afford?
*actual eBay item

break a New Year’s
resolution?

read Twitter instead of
working?

procrastinate?

We are surrounded by
marshmallows*
* tweetable
phrase

Is my kid screwed?

Am I screwed?

What made delayers
different?

All kids struggled

Some find
avoidance strategies

Don’t look.

Sing or clap

Pretend to eat

Can we teach this?

Yes*

* but might be
domain-limited

Example: Turn hot
stimulus into cold

Example: Turn hot
stimulus into cold

Things we now know:
Marshmallows = yummy
Delaying = hard
Success in life self control
Can learn tactics to delay