In Chapter 18, “Rotter and Mischel: Cognitive Social Learning Theory,” you read about Walter Mischel’s “marshmallow test,” in which he researched self-regulation and delayed gratification. Review the description of the “marshmallow test” and its results on pages 561–563 of your textbook.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:
- Imagine that you were invited to take the test as a child. Predict how you would have responded to the test. Would you have been able to exercise willpower and self-regulation? Why or why not? What techniques might you have used to delay gratification?
- Refer to Skinner’s Behaviorist theory. Based on your response to the marshmallow test, what might Skinner have to say about your personality? Incorporate two or more of the following terms in your response:
- Reinforcement (positive, negative, continuous, intermittent)
- Punishment (not to be confused with negative reinforcement)
- Social control
- Self-control
Please no plagiarism and list any references or sources.
Answer preview
Skinner’s theory suggests that behaviors in humans are shaped by various consequences caused by another person or occur naturally in the environment (Verhaegh, 2019). According to Skinner, patterns of behavior are learned either directly or indirectly. Directly is through positive reinforcement of the desired behavior or negative reinforcement of the undesired behavior while indirectly is through learning by observations. According to the results of my marshmallow test, Skinner would say that I have a conscientious personality. This is a personality trait of having the tendency of controlling impulses and acting in socially acceptable ways. Being conscientious helps to delay gratification by having self-discipline and self-control to achieve the desired goal.
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