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A quick THREAD on the #TemptationChallenge , because so many people have been asking me about it. In case you are new to this social media craze, here's a loving example of it, from @LadBabyOfficial . I reckon @DadsRockEdin will love this too.
2. I believe this recent social media craze has been initiated by celebrity mums who tried the #TemptationChallenge with their children, and other parents are now repeating it, fuelled by the ease of #TikTok. https://theblast.com/c/kylie-jenner-stormi-chocolate-tiktok-challenge-patience-video-instagram
3. What many people may not realise is that the #TemptationChallenge is a version of the 1960s Marshmallow Test, published by scientist Walter Mischel, which traced a link between a child's capacity for delayed gratification & later outcomes in adult life.
4. Effectively, the Marshmallow Test (now #TemptationChallenge) is a measure of self-regulation capacities. Here is Mischel himself talking about the study in 2016 on #ThisMorning.
5. Note that the Marshmallow Test involved children who were 4 years old, not toddlers. Asking toddlers to delay gratification is dealing w/ a very different developmental stage. The expectations then end up mismatched to the child's biological capacities. https://theblast.com/c/kylie-jenner-stormi-chocolate-tiktok-challenge-patience-video-instagram
6. The original Marshmallow Test has had major impacts on the thinking of economists, business strategists and others thinking about adult capacities. For example, here is James Heckman talking about t importance of 'soft skills'.
7. Here is another discussion of that work, using the language of 'self-control'. The capacity to manage impulsiveness is really important - and nurturing that capacity works best when it is woven into a general awareness of child development. https://theforeveryears.wordpress.com/2016/11/08/the-dunedin-study-the-vital-importance-of-self-control-in-creating-positive-life-outcomes-by-kirsteen-mclay-knopp/
8. The conclusions drawn from the Marshmallow Test have been recently subject to re-evaluation. The impact of socioeconomic factors has been particularly emphasised. It isn't just about 'grit'. Here's a 2018 discussion. https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/06/marshmallow-test/561779/
9. Here's more on the debate on the Marshmallow Test. https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/6/6/17413000/marshmallow-test-replication-mischel-psychology
10. Here's the book that scientist Walter Mischel himself recently wrote on what the science of self-control and the Marshmallow Test tells us. Published in 2014. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20454074-the-marshmallow-test
11. But, when that 1960s scientific experiment has been translated into a celebrity-driven, social media fuelled, lockdown bored public in 2020, new controversy arises. Here's a flavour, as captured this week on @Niall_Boylan of #IrelandTalks. https://omny.fm/shows/the-niall-boylan-show/the-temptation-challenge
12. Here's more on the debate. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/chocolate-temptation-challenge-kids_uk_5ec64c84c5b63257cf56af67
13. Two big strands of the debate so far are: 1) Is it ever fair of parents to put videos of their children on social media? 2) It is unkind of parents to intentionlly task their children w/ such patience challenges? Here, for ex, is @janeparenting2 take. https://twitter.com/janeparenting2/status/1263149204706295808?s=20
14. I would add 3 more strands to the #temptationchallenge debate: 1) Does it matter if people know abt the scientific history of the task? My own view is that, at the least, this knowledge helps parents & journalists think beyond the level of 'cuteness'. Its about so much more.
15. Secondly 2): The age of the child involved matters a lot. Asking a toddler to have such patience is really different from the original study, which involved 4-year-olds. Here's mum @kellymcgarv making that point this morning: https://twitter.com/kellymcgarv/status/1264122101490909184?s=20
16. Finally (my most favourite) 3): What impact does this task hv on the relationship betwn a child&parent? If there is lots of laughter&love, maybe it strengthens it? Those qualities are very apparent in t @LadBabyOfficial video I started thss thread w/:
17. There are other 'challenges' out there that encourage parents to try something with their kids -- but that have a very different dynamic. For example, @JimmyKimmelLive Halloween Candy Challenge asks parents to betray their children's trust.
18. I've written about the @JimmyKimmelLive challenge before. Here's a blog from 2015. You'll get the message: I don't think this challenge is good for parent-child relationships. It stops being 'cute' once we view it through a relational lens. http://www.suzannezeedyk.com/when-corporations-encourage-giggling-at-childrens-distress/
19. So...a number of people hv asked me what I think about t #TemptationChallenge . It doesn't matter so much what I think as what I am able to help other people to think about. If this thread encourages folks to get more curious at children's experience, then I've done my job.
