Related to this, the classic "marshmallow test," where they left a kid alone with a marshmallow, and told them if they could hold off from eating it they'd get

Related to this, the classic "marshmallow test," where they left a kid alone with a marshmallow, and told them if they could hold off from eating it they'd get two later. The standard interpretation of the original results was that a skill at delayed gratification led to better outcomes in life. A replication of the study found that the effect nearly completely disappears once you correctly account for their socio-economic background. [1] It also strongly supported the criticism that the lower socio-economic kids may have actually been making a logical choice to take the first marshmallow -- many of them had grown up with a lack of reliable adults and a lack of trust that future dreams will come true. Under that worldview, it makes sense to take the bird in the hand over the two in the bush. Preferring dreams over reality is a luxury mostly permitted to those whose dreams have a reasonable chance of coming true, and a cushion to hand on when they don't. 1. https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/06/marshmallow-test/561779/ https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/06/marshmall...