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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& #39;s a loving example of it, from @LadBabyOfficial . I reckon @DadsRockEdin will love this too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWmfyRiyRXA">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
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">https://theblast.com/c/kylie-j...
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& #39;s capacity for delayed gratification & later outcomes in adult life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8M7Xzjy_m8">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLjZX3fJu9A">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
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& #39;s biological capacities. https://theblast.com/c/kylie-jenner-stormi-chocolate-tiktok-challenge-patience-video-instagram">https://theblast.com/c/kylie-j...
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 & #39;soft skills& #39;. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSmG87MOyV0">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
7. Here is another discussion of that work, using the language of & #39;self-control& #39;. 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/">https://theforeveryears.wordpress.com/2016/11/0...
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& #39;t just about & #39;grit& #39;. Here& #39;s a 2018 discussion. https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/06/marshmallow-test/561779/">https://www.theatlantic.com/family/ar...
9. Here& #39;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">https://www.vox.com/science-a...
10. Here& #39;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">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show...
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& #39;s a flavour, as captured this week on @Niall_Boylan of #IrelandTalks. https://omny.fm/shows/the-niall-boylan-show/the-temptation-challenge">https://omny.fm/shows/the...
12. Here& #39;s more on the debate. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/chocolate-temptation-challenge-kids_uk_5ec64c84c5b63257cf56af67">https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/cho...
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">https://twitter.com/janeparen...
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 & #39;cuteness& #39;. 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& #39;s mum @kellymcgarv making that point this morning: https://twitter.com/kellymcgarv/status/1264122101490909184?s=20">https://twitter.com/kellymcga...
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/: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWmfyRiyRXA">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
17. There are other & #39;challenges& #39; 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& #39;s trust. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-euQU-WcJY">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
18. I& #39;ve written about the @JimmyKimmelLive challenge before. Here& #39;s a blog from 2015. You& #39;ll get the message: I don& #39;t think this challenge is good for parent-child relationships. It stops being & #39;cute& #39; once we view it through a relational lens. http://www.suzannezeedyk.com/when-corporations-encourage-giggling-at-childrens-distress/">https://www.suzannezeedyk.com/when-corp...
19. So...a number of people hv asked me what I think about t #TemptationChallenge . It doesn& #39;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& #39;s experience, then I& #39;ve done my job.
