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Related Experiment Videos

Self-control: teaching tolerance for delay in impulsive children.

J B Schweitzer1, B Sulzer-Azaroff

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003.

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|September 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
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This study developed a teaching method to improve self-control in preschoolers by encouraging choices that offer greater long-term rewards. The procedure successfully increased children's preference for larger, delayed rewards over smaller, immediate ones.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Economics
  • Developmental Science

Background:

  • Impulsive behavior in children often involves preferring immediate gratification over larger, delayed rewards.
  • This preference can hinder long-term decision-making and goal achievement.
  • Self-control is a critical developmental skill impacting various life outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a procedure for enhancing self-control in preschoolers.
  • To increase children's selection of larger, delayed reinforcers over smaller, immediate ones.
  • To assess the feasibility of teaching advantageous long-term decision-making.

Main Methods:

  • Six preschoolers identified as impulsive participated in the study.
  • A preassessment measured initial preferences for immediate versus delayed reinforcers.

Related Experiment Videos

  • A teaching procedure gradually increased delay intervals for larger reinforcers over multiple sessions.

    • Main Results:

    • Five out of six children showed an increased proportion of choices favoring delayed reinforcers after the intervention.
    • Indifference points, initially ranging from 1.7 to 51.7 seconds, increased significantly post-treatment.
    • Following training, indifference points ranged from 37.5 to at least 90 seconds, with three children preferring delayed rewards at all tested intervals.

    Conclusions:

    • The study demonstrated a feasible method for teaching young children to make more advantageous long-term choices.
    • The intervention effectively improved self-control by shifting preferences towards delayed gratification.
    • Results suggest that self-control skills related to delayed reinforcement can be learned and enhanced in early childhood.