Question

When children's ability to delay gratification was tested, the researchers found that:

a) Younger children were better able to regulate their behavior
b) Girls were able to wait longer before "peeking"
c) There was a gender difference in the likelihood that a child would peek at some point
d) Older children were better able to regulate their behavior

Answer 1

The researchers found that older children were better at delaying gratification, which is the ability to regulate behavior for a larger reward later. Studies like Mischel's marshmallow test illustrated that self-control in preschool predicted success in high school, including higher SAT scores and more stable personal relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

When children's ability to delay gratification was tested, the researchers found that older children were better able to regulate their behavior. This finding stems from studies on self-regulation like the famous marshmallow study conducted by Mischel and his colleagues.

In the marshmallow study, preschoolers were presented with the choice of eating one marshmallow immediately or waiting to receive a larger reward of two marshmallows later. Self-control varied among children, with some able to wait for the bigger reward. Findings revealed that those who exhibited greater self-control in preschool fared better in high school, attaining higher SAT scores and having more successful peer relationships, among other things.

This study emphasizes the importance of delay of gratification as a predictor of future success and highlights the growth of cognitive skills that influence behavioral regulation in children as they develop.