Final answer:
Delaying gratification is associated with positive life outcomes such as academic success, stable relationships, and competent adult behaviour. It plays an important role in human capital development and affects societal trends such as the progression into adulthood. Studies indicate its importance in educational attainment and career success.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effects of Delaying Gratification on Human Competencies
The concept of delaying gratification has been extensively studied in psychological research, notably through the work of Walter Mischel and his colleagues. Their seminal marshmallow study found that children who were able to delay gratification exhibited higher levels of self-control. This capacity for self-regulation was linked to a range of positive outcomes in later life, including higher SAT scores, better peer relationships, fewer substance abuse issues, and more stable marriages. A recent study by Watts, Duncan, & Quan has found similar associations between early delay of gratification and positive outcomes. Delaying gratification is also seen as a critical component in developing human capital and may influence one's ability to navigate educational and career goals effectively. As societal and economic factors shift, such as the need for more education before entering the workforce and changes in cultural expectations around adulthood, delaying gratification may become more pertinent to the development of skills and competencies in adulthood.
Adolescents' propensity to take risks despite having the ability to evaluate them like adults may be attributed to a combination of biological factors and social pressures. Whereas adults often form habits around delayed gratification to live within their means or make healthier choices, younger individuals may prioritize immediate rewards due to peer influence or the underdevelopment of certain brain regions involved in impulse control.
Additionally, the transition into adulthood in modern Western culture often includes a prolonged educational period and delayed entry into the workforce and family life. These societal shifts have led to a rise in the Boomerang Generation, with young adults returning home due to difficulties in finding employment post-college, further emphasizing the importance of developing the skill of delaying gratification in navigating contemporary challenges.