Marshmallow test proves self-control can be learned

In the late 60s, a ground breaking study, now known as the Marshmallow Test, challenged kids to exercise self-control. The original test has been replicated many times by scientists and curious parents.

The original "marshmallow test" children were followed into adulthood to see if their ability to wait or not was an indicator of who they would become.

Walter Mischel is the man behind the experiment and the author of The Marshmallow Test, Mastering Self-Control. He is also a professor of humane letters in psychology at Columbia University.

Kate Green was one of the children who took part in the marshmallow experiment back in the 70s.

Here is how Walter Mischel used the Marshmallow Experiment to quit smoking:

More videos on testing out self-control with kids and the temptation of marshmallows:
 

Walter Mischel moved his work to the eastern U.S. at one point to see if kids in a lower socio-economic area would test in a comparable way as the kids in California and in fact, they did.

Motivational speaker Joachim de Posada wondered if Hispanic kids would react the same way as children in the US studies. He tried it in Colombia, and got pretty much the same results.

Even the Emporer of Impulsiveness admits there are times for restraint. We gave the Last Word today on self-control to Cookie Monster.
 

This segment was produced by The Current's Kristin Nelson and Ines Colabrese. It originally aired last September.