New twist on marshmallow test shows power of a promise

Curious Kids: How do marshmallows teach kids self-control? A study by psychologist Walter Mischel from the 1960s found that children who could resist eating a marshmallow for 15 minutes to get a second one often ended up achieving higher grades and feeling more confident later in life. Nearly three decades later, those same kids showed strong correlations in academic success and self-esteem, though other factors like family background also played a role. The ability to delay gratification—whether for a marshmallow or life's challenges—is linked to future achievement.