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My theory is that those able to do delayed gratification are happier. Or it could be that being happier makes delayed gratification easier. Not sure, but either

My theory is that those able to do delayed gratification are happier. Or it could be that being happier makes delayed gratification easier. Not sure, but either way there is a link. In specific terms an early adopter risks disappointment and at best gets an early version of a product. Subsequent upgrades provide marginal enjoyment and often feel more like obligations than anything. The late adopter comes in when they know they need/want the product and they go from zero to a much later, more capable version of the product. And then get to enjoy just as many real quality of life improvements, they're delayed but the frequency can be the same. Plus they save a whole load of money.

Dylan16807 3y ago
> My theory is that those able to do delayed gratification are happier. Or it could be that being happier makes delayed gratification easier. Not sure, but either way there is a link. In that case, someone that is easily able to delay but chooses not to might be happiest of all? > Subsequent upgrades provide marginal enjoyment and often feel more like obligations than anything. Uh huh... I don't know, I don't find your argument at all convincing that this person gets less enjoyment considering they get to have the same product at the end. Maybe they have less of a first day wow factor if they touch many intermediate versions, but that fades fast. But even that is a maybe because by splitting up advances you can give each one more focus. Learning how to walk is way better than crawling, but you're not going to have more total enjoyment by waiting and going nowhere in the mean time. > Plus they save a whole load of money. Obviously they save money, but the interesting part of your claim was that they both save money and get more enjoyment.
- deleted 3y ago
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- jzombie 3y ago
  Numerous studies in psychology suggest that the ability to delay gratification is indeed linked to better outcomes in life, including higher academic achievement, better health, and more profound personal satisfaction. Instant gratification is largely simple decisions by simple people.
  - Dylan16807 3y ago
    Right but the point is it's the ability to delay, not the act of delaying. For the act to be valuable, you need an external reason for it. You don't delay for the sake of delaying.

Dylan16807 3y ago

> My theory is that those able to do delayed gratification are happier. Or it could be that being happier makes delayed gratification easier. Not sure, but either way there is a link. In that case, someone that is easily able to delay but chooses not to might be happiest of all? > Subsequent upgrades provide marginal enjoyment and often feel more like obligations than anything. Uh huh... I don't know, I don't find your argument at all convincing that this person gets less enjoyment considering they get to have the same product at the end. Maybe they have less of a first day wow factor if they touch many intermediate versions, but that fades fast. But even that is a maybe because by splitting up advances you can give each one more focus. Learning how to walk is way better than crawling, but you're not going to have more total enjoyment by waiting and going nowhere in the mean time. > Plus they save a whole load of money. Obviously they save money, but the interesting part of your claim was that they both save money and get more enjoyment.

deleted 3y ago
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jzombie 3y ago
Numerous studies in psychology suggest that the ability to delay gratification is indeed linked to better outcomes in life, including higher academic achievement, better health, and more profound personal satisfaction. Instant gratification is largely simple decisions by simple people.
- Dylan16807 3y ago
  Right but the point is it's the ability to delay, not the act of delaying. For the act to be valuable, you need an external reason for it. You don't delay for the sake of delaying.