Talks & Entertainment

A child is presented with a marshmallow and given a choice: Eat this one now, or wait and enjoy two later. What will she do? And what are the implications for her behavior later in life?

A renowned psychologist, the world’s leading expert on self-control, and designer of the famous Marshmallow Test, Mischel has proven that the ability to delay gratification is critical for a successful life, predicting higher SAT scores, better social and cognitive functioning, a healthier lifestyle and a greater sense of self-worth. But is willpower prewired, or can it be taught?

In The Marshmallow Test: Mastering Self-Control, Mischel explains how self-control can be applied to challenges in everyday life—from weight control to quitting smoking, overcoming heartbreak, making major decisions, and planning for retirement. With profound implications for the choices we make in parenting, education, public policy and self-care, The Marshmallow Test may change the way you think about who we are and what we can be. In conversation with Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and a 2013 MacArthur Fellow. Book signing to follow.