There was a bit of research done on this back in the 60s using children and marshmallows. The kids that could resist the marshmallows tended to grow up as succe

There was a bit of research done on this back in the 60s using children and marshmallows. The kids that could resist the marshmallows tended to grow up as successes. The ability to resist instant gratification as a kid seemed to correlate more highly with future success than did IQ, Grades, University, SATs, GREs etc. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/18/090518fa_fact_lehrer?currentPage=all http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/18/090518fa_fact_... http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/09/psychological-experiments-in-self-control-the-marshmallow-test/ http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/09/psychological-experiments-...