this post was submitted on 09 May 2025
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sometimes i think about that kid in the experiment
who was sat down and told to wait some time
before eating the sweetness put in front of him
that his patience would bring a reward
and i think about how they laughed when he didn’t succeed in waiting and instead
crammed the entire gummy bear into his mouth the second they left
looking so guilty afterward
the way they gloated and collected data and prognosticated about his future job prospects and potential success-
certainly not as good as those who waited, they said
it was something about self-control
i know all too well that when he got home
there were probably no sweets
or if there were, they were there for a moment only
before being snatched away by either cruel hands or circumstance
no guarantee that promises meant anything, much less that they were kept.
if it had been me in that chair
i’d have eaten it too.
I don't know what study you are referencing, but in ALL the behavior analytic literature on "self-control" that I know of, the experimenters provide the reinforcement as part of the study. Not only that, but there are usually repeated trials with the same individual to establish a baseline and some sort of experimental treatment to see if self-control-related behaviors can be shaped. If the research is done with individuals who are children or have Developmental Disabilities, they usually ask that whatever the reinforcers are be restricted for some amount of time prior to experimental sessions to minimize outside influence on the study. So, families are usually asked not to give that specific candy, or whatever, to the individual during the trial, but there will be a handful of opportunities to receive some.