how to: The Marshmallow Test: understanding self-control and how to master it, with Walter Mischel

Since the 1960s psychologists have measured willpower with the help of marshmallows thanks to the revolutionary test devised by award-winning human behaviour and neurology expert Walter Mischel.

The simple Stanford Marshmallow experiment shows how far a child can exercise self control. The desire for instant gratification versus an ability to think ahead determines the child’s future success. The test subject was presented with a single treat and left alone for around 15 minutes. All the children were told that they could eat their marshmallow immediately or, if they waited until the tester returned, they would be given two treats. The results of this influential study shows that those who waited typically became more successful and accomplished adults than those who ate the first treat.

In this rare lunchtime lecture Mischel will shed light on the test’s surprisingly conclusive findings about deferred gratification and help the audience channel these psychological insights to maximise their own achievements. This promises to be an enlightening and stimulating look at how the brain's innermost workings influence well-being. You will learn not only the science behind willpower, but also how to harness your own.