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Preschoolers find ways to resist temptation after learning that willpower can be energizing
Author(s) -
Haimovitz Kyla,
Dweck Carol S.,
Walton Gregory M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
developmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.801
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1467-7687
pISSN - 1363-755X
DOI - 10.1111/desc.12905
Subject(s) - temptation , psychology , gratification , delay of gratification , task (project management) , developmental psychology , control (management) , cognitive psychology , distraction , self control , social psychology , computer science , management , artificial intelligence , economics
Abstract Children's tendency to delay gratification predicts important life outcomes, yet little is known about how to enhance delay of gratification other than by teaching task‐specific strategies. The present research investigated the effect of exposing children to a model who experiences the exertion of willpower as energizing. In two experiments, 86 4‐ to 5‐year olds were read a story that represented the exertion of willpower as energizing or a control story before taking part in a delay of gratification task. Children exposed to a storybook character who struggled with waiting, but eventually found it energizing, spontaneously generated more delay strategies, which enhanced delay. By promoting the search for effective strategies, this approach provides a promising direction for efforts to foster self‐regulation early in development.