What's the Story of the Marshmallow Test?

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The marshmellow test is a test that was given to toddlers since the 19 sixties, where they're told that they can have one treat right away or they can wait for an indefinite period of time. What actually helps kids pass the marshmallow test is having cultural norms and pure groups that reinforce waiting for the second treat. And it's astounding to me that culture and environment can play such a big role on whether we can wait, or whether we can do something more long term oriented.

Bina Venkataraman is an American journalist, author, and science policy expert. She is currently the Editorial Page Editor of The Boston Globe and a fellow at New America. Bina is a frequent public speaker whose appearances have included the TED mainstage, NPR, Aspen Ideas, MSNBC, CNN, and university campuses around the world. Bina formerly served as Senior Advisor for Climate Change Innovation in the Obama White House and she also advised the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in responding to the Ebola epidemic, promoting patient access to cancer therapies, and reforming public school science education.

In this episode, Bina and Eric discuss her book, The Optimist’s Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age, and how we can live in the present in such a way that we also create the future that we’d like to inhabit.

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In This Interview, Bina Venkataraman and I Discuss Effectively Thinking Ahead and…

Her book, The Optimist’s Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age
How to make decisions about the future
The untold story of the marshmallow test
How most people don’t look past 15 years in the future
Tools for more effectively imagining the future
Tools for more effectively planning for the future
Being present while also orienting for the future
When we’re more likely to make bad decisions
The role of implementing impulse buffers
When an “if/then” strategy can be most helpful to you
How our past informs our view of the future
Social movements that influence lasting change

Bina Venkataraman Links:

writerbina.com

Twitter

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Bina Venkataraman on Effectively Thinking Ahead, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

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