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Psychology » Child Psychology
Marshmallow Test
By
Angel E. Navidad
|
Updated on
September 21, 2026
Reviewed by
Saul McLeod, PhD
The Stanford Marshmallow Test is a famous psychology experiment from the 1970s where children were offered one marshmallow now, or two if they waited. It tested self-control and delayed gratification. Early studies suggested that kids who could wait tended to have better life outcomes, but later research showed the results were also shaped by factors like family background and environment.