Instant Gratification

The Boston Globe article, “Instant gratification is making perpetually impatient” discusses how our patience is being worn thin as internet and delivery speeds become faster. Sure it is great that we can listen to our favorite song or watch our favorite video within a few seconds, but is there a cost that comes with this expediency? Darrel Worthy, who teaches psychology at Texas A&M states believes “We’re becoming more focused on quick fun — such as a game of Angry Birds on the iPhone — than on reading books or magazines.” This article reminds of a book I read called The Marshmallow Test which basically finds that the ability to delay gratification early in life is a greater indicator of success than a test of intelligence. This video shows an example of the test: