The Marshmallow Test
Are we self-controlled?
by Claire Law
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To consider strategies we can use to develop self-control when facing temptation.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the YouTube clip ‘The Marshmellow Test’ and the means to display it. This can be found at: The Marshmallow Test | Igniter Media | Church Video
Assembly
- I wonder if any of us here has faced temptation today. Perhaps when our alarms went off this morning, we were tempted to roll back over and go back to sleep, rather than getting up and getting ready for school. If so, the fact you’re here this morning tells me that you can overcome temptation, at least some of the time!
We face temptation every day – the temptation to eat all the biscuits in a packet or the temptation to turn on Netflix rather than revise. The temptation to shout when we’re angry or the temptation to give in when things are tough. - But have you ever been tempted by a marshmallow?
That might sound like an odd question, but it was central to an important and now famous experiment originally conducted at Stanford university in America in the 1950s. Psychologist Walter Mischel wanted to study self-control, and what it is that helps us to resist temptation. He devised an experiment with 4-year-olds from a local Nursery School. It’s called the Marshmallow Test. The experiment has been repeated many times since; let’s watch footage of one of the attempts in action. - Show the YouTube clip ‘The Marshmellow Test’. This can be found at: The Marshmallow Test | Igniter Media | Church Video
- In the Marshmallow Test experiment, the child sits at a seat with a single marshmallow on a plate. They are presented with a choice: they can eat the marshmallow immediately, or they can wait until the adult returns. If they manage to wait and the marshmallow remains uneaten, they receive a second marshmallow. The experiment is about whether the child can delay the pleasure of the marshmallow. Whether they can override their impulse to eat the marshmallow and if they have the self-control to hold out.
- As we saw in the video, it’s not easy for these young children. Some manage it, some don’t. But there are lots of things we can learn about how the children manage to cope and support themselves to avoid eating the marshmallow, even though they really want to! In the video we saw a range of strategies to help them with their self-control:
- One child sat on their hands.
- One child turned their face and body away from the marshmallow, so they couldn’t see it.
- Another child distracted themselves through movement and making noises.
- Plenty of the children smelt or licked the marshmallow without eating it.
- In the original experiment, one child pretended the marshmallows were fluffy clouds to help direct their mind onto something else. Some walked around the room. Some chatted to themselves. - It’s natural that some humans find self-control and delaying gratification easier than others. Some of us here will know that we can be impulsive and find it challenging to plan and think ahead. Self-control is an important skill as it allows us to manage our thoughts, actions, and emotions so we can get things done. Even if it doesn’t come naturally to us, there are things we can do to develop greater self-control. There are strategies we can practice that will help us grow our self-control in the face of temptation.
- Let’s look at 3 ways we can hone our self-control – inspired by the children in the Marshmallow experiment:
- Get involved in playing games.
- Use distraction.
- Use self-talk. - Playing games can help us practice key skills needed for self-control. Whether it’s a sport, like football, or a board game, we need to listen to the rules, pay attention when the rules change and not act on autopilot.
- Distraction can be a useful strategy when we face temptation. We might know that we are likely eat all the biscuits in a packet, if they are sitting in front of us. But if we focus on something else, or turn our attention to something else, we are far less likely to succumb to the temptation.
- Self-talk can help us to keep going when we want to give in. We can opt to tell ourselves things like ‘revision will be temporary, and it will be worth it in the end’, or ‘Yes, it’s difficult to get out of bed in the morning, but I can do difficult things!’. The way we talk to ourselves can help us to build more self-control when we speak to ourselves in an encouraging and kind way, and when we believe in ourselves.
Time for reflection
The Bible speaks of the importance of self-control, and Christians call self-control a virtue. This means, Christians see self-control as a way we can be moral and show strength through our conduct. For Christians, self-control can be developed through practical strategies and is also something we can ask God, through his Holy Spirit, to help us with.
Self-control is also a concept that is important to Muslims. In Islam, the concept of ‘sabr’ refers to patience and self-restraint. For Muslims, restraining desires, managing anger and being careful in our speech helps a Muslim to live in line with God’s will.
So, whether we like marshmallows or not, let’s take a few moments to consider the practice of self-control in our own lives. Let’s silently reflect on some questions:
How easy do you find it to practice self-control? When do you find it hardest to be self-controlled?
Pause to allow time for reflection.
What helps you to avoid temptation? What strategies do you use to help you keep self-control in the face of temptation?
Pause to allow time for reflection.
Finally, how can you hone and grow your self-control this week?
Pause to allow time for reflection
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
We face temptation every day.
Each one of use will face challenges in life.
Sometimes we feel angry and struggle to control our actions.
Sometimes we feel like giving in or doing something we know to be wrong.
In these times, help us to find ways to connect with self-control.
Help us to think about our options, and to respond rather than react.
We pray, too, that we have chance this week to hone and grow the skill of self-control.
Help us to practice the skill of listening or following instructions.
Help us to notice how we feel before we feel overwhelmed.
We ask for your help in growing our self-control.
Amen.
