The Marshmallow Test: Can Children be “better at life” than others?

Children can be difficult to understand, whether it’s trying to understand why they did something they knew they were not supposed to, or trying to know what they are thinking at an exact moment in time.  A study was performed on nursery students involving a marshmallow and other treats.  They were told to wait fifteen minutes and they will receive another.  So how does a test involving a marshmallow dictate which student will “be better at life” than others?

A study has been conducted at the Brain and Spine Institute in Paris involving the brain’s memory and how memory can help to resist temptations. There have been countless studies on children delaying gratification, but there has never been an answer as to why some can delay gratification and resist temptations over other children.  A part of the answer lies in the hippocampus, which is part of the brain’s memory which is located in the temporal lobe of the brain.

Working Hypothesis 1

More and more specialists, scientists, teachers, and even parents are trying to grasp the concept of what goes through a child’s mind right before they are about to put the marshmallow in their mouth, or if they will stare at it intensely  and aggressively for the fifteen minutes they must wait.  By having children wait those 15 minutes that they believe are the longest in their life, in the long run it can make them have the ability to last in relationships better, become more successful, and more healthier than those children who did not wait.  The child must have strong willpower to sit in the chair waiting for their second treat without eating the first. The “hot and cool” system explains why willpower does not always succeed.

Working Hypothesis 2

A child’s environment has a major impact on themselves and their entire life.  It impacts their decision-making, their willpower, and their expectations for what life has to offer.  Children who come from impoverished neighborhoods and surroundings, do not expect as much as a child from a well-off and wealthier neighborhood and environment.  When children do not have the materialistic or basic needs in life, they do not expect them.  If their parents tell the that it will all get better and they are trying to give them a better life, and the family is still found to be living off of food stamps, and living day by day, the child loses trust.  Children who live in poorer communities, usually act without thinking; they will take immediately what is given to them, which can explain the marshmallow test.

Topics for smaller papers

What does this mean for their future paths in life? 

For the children who participated in the Marshmallow Test when they were nursery students, showed that they have the ability to sustain a relationship and last longer in them.  From the participants, it also shows that they are able to live a healthier and more successful life.

What neurologically goes through a child’s mind when making impulsive decisions?

Not many people realize how important the memory systems in a brain are.  They do not only store and retrieve memories, they have a lot more abilities that can help people make decisions.  The hippocampus is apart of the limbic system, which regulates emotions.  It is manly associated with long term memory but also plays a role in spatial navigation.  The hippocampus also helps in resisting temptations and delaying gratification.

Current State of the Research Paper

This paper is interesting since we can choose our own topic but it all too much at once.  I’m feeling overwhelmed finding “smaller topics” within my actual topic and having all these resources and forcing them to be contributed into my paper. I also am confused with the directions since I feel like it is not explained thoroughly.  I am not completely set on my topic but I feel as though it is too late to consider a new one.  I feel as though I am somewhat behind on everything for this paper and I am intimidated with all the due dates and work I have to complete.