The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment

A young child stares at the marshmallow put in front of them.

This is a most alluring temptation: if the child doesn’t eat the marshmallow now, she’ll get another one 15 minutes later.

If my math is right, that’s twice the marshmallows. That’s an incredible return on investment! 15 minutes of patient waiting yields a dopamine double.

This is the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, led by psychologist Walter Mischel. By transforming every kid’s favorite gelatin-based treat into a symbol of self-control, Mischel revolutionized the way we view how success happens. It turns out that no other factor seems to predict how successful someone would be later in life than he ability to delay gratification.

But the story of the marshmallow test isn't all sweet—it also invites criticisms, introduces important discussions on socio-economic factors, and nudges us to rethink the multifaceted nature of success.

The Marshmallow Test and the Sweet Taste of Success

Imagine being a preschooler faced with a mars…