Delay Gratification Study

Overview:

The link between attention and self-control in the context of the delay gratification is paradigm is the premise behind a series of experiment led by Dr. Walter Mischel. In this presentation, we will examine the dynamics of self-control and the implications of attention to inhibiting or enhancing alluring cues.

Origin:

The concept of delay gratification paradigm was inadvertently developed in a field research study in Trinidad, British West Indies, where Dr. Mischel and his colleagues observed cultural implications on personality and preference for delayed gratification between two ethnic groups “Negros and East Indians” (Mischel, 1958). Gathering 53 elementary school children between the ages of 7 and 9 Mischel conducted an experiment

This analysis by Dr. Mischel in his colleagues led to the development of a framework explaining the human capacity to delay gratification, proposing the “hot and cool” system as the vital component in explaining the dynamics of the willpower. According to Metcalfe et. al (1999) the framework of self-control consists of two parts; an emotionally neutral, cognitive “cool system” and an impulsive, highly emotional “hot system”. Essentially, the hot system is responsible for impulsive behaviors while the cool system is reflective, therefore, conflict between two systems occur when one is exposed to alluring cues and the dominance of the other is highly depended on one’s ability to enhance or inhibit self-controlling

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