DELAY OF GRATIFICATION

Delay of Gratification: A Review

The concept of delay of gratification has been studied extensively in the fields of psychology and economics. It is a cognitive process that involves postponing an immediate reward or satisfaction in order to obtain a more substantial reward in the future. The notion of delay of gratification has been used to explain a variety of important social and economic phenomena, such as savings, investment, and decision-making. In this review, we will provide an overview of the current understanding of the concept of delay of gratification and its implications for human behavior.

At the core of the concept of delay of gratification is the idea that immediate gratification can be costly when compared to delayed gratification. This is because the benefits of delayed gratification are often greater than those of immediate gratification. For example, when an individual chooses to save money instead of spending it, they are likely to benefit from the increased savings in the future. Similarly, when an individual chooses to invest their money in the stock market instead of spending it on consumer goods, they may be rewarded with higher returns in the long run.

The concept of delay of gratification has been studied extensively in the field of psychology, particularly in relation to children and adolescents. Studies have shown that children who are able to delay gratification are more likely to experience better academic performance, higher self-esteem, and better overall mental health. Furthermore, delay of gratification has been linked to better decision-making abilities in adults, as well as improved social skills and better planning and organization.

Delay of gratification has also been studied in the context of economics. Studies have suggested that individuals who are able to delay gratification are more likely to make better economic decisions, such as saving for retirement or investing in the stock market. Furthermore, individuals who are able to delay gratification are more likely to experience greater financial success in the long run.

In conclusion, the concept of delay of gratification is an important one, as it has implications for a variety of social and economic phenomena. Studies have shown that individuals who are able to delay gratification are more likely to experience better academic performance, higher self-esteem, and better overall mental health. Furthermore, delay of gratification has been linked to better decision-making abilities in adults, as well as improved social skills and better planning and organization. Finally, the concept of delay of gratification has been linked to improved economic outcomes, such as higher returns on investments and greater financial success.

References

Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2007). Self-regulation, ego depletion, and motivation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 1(1), 1-14.

Mischel, W., Ayduk, O., & Mendoza-Denton, R. (2008). Delay of gratification in children and adults. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17(4), 337-341.

Moffitt, T. E., Arseneault, L., Belsky, D., Dickson, N., Hancox, R. J., Harrington, H., … & Caspi, A. (2011). A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(7), 2693-2698.

Mullainathan, S., & Thaler, R. (2000). Behavioral economics. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 14(3), 151-168.

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