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Mmastodon LifeParenting first seen 10 h ago, last 1 h ago, peak #4

Marshmallow test may measure trust, not self-control

Original: The marshmallow test was not measuring self-control. It was measuring whether a child trusted the adults in their world.

The famous Stanford marshmallow test, long cited as evidence of children's self-control and later life success, is being reinterpreted: a child's decision to wait may hinge on whether they trust the adult promising a second marshmallow. Commenters in parenting and child development circles are sharing the take, arguing it undermines a popular myth and shows behavior reflects environment and reliability of caregivers, not innate willpower.

Why now: A reframing of a well-known psychology experiment challenges a widely repeated parenting myth.

Stanford marshmallow experimentWalter Mischel

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