Cognitive and attentional mechanisms in delay of gratification.

摘要: Three experiments investigated attentional and cognitive mechanisms in delay of gratification In each study preschool children could obtain a less preferred reward immediately or continue waiting indefinitely for more but delayed Experiment I compared the effects external distraction from objects on length time which waited before forfeiting it sake immediate one. accord with predictions an extension frustrative nonreward theory, much longer when they were distracted rewards than attended to them directly II demonstrated that only certain events (thinking "fun things") served as effective ideational distractors Thinking "sad thoughts" produced short times, did thinking about themselves III not physically available direct attention during period, children's cogmtively was manipulated by prior instructions While waited, cognitions significantly reduced, rather enhanced, their Overall, enhanced salience shortened voluntary delay, while distractions rewards, overtly cogmtively, facilitated The results permit remterpretatio n basic self-control