Question

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Imagine that you were invited to take the test as a child. Predict how you would have responded to the test. Would you have been able to exercise willpower and self-regulation? Why or why not? What techniques might you have used to delay gratification?

• Refer to Skinner’s Behaviorist theory. Based on your response to the marshmallow test, what might Skinner have to say about your personality? Incorporate two or more of the following terms in your response:
• Reinforcement (positive, negative, continuous, intermittent)
• Punishment (not to be confused with negative reinforcement)
• Social control
• Self-control

Answer 1

I guess I would have had waited for a long time for the reward and would have exercised self control and willpower to distract myself from the thought of getting the reward and mainly satisfy my curiosity. I would have done that because the long wait promised me better rewards. I would have had distracted myself by singing something to myself, thinking about what's in the room or preferably close my eyes and doz off so that I don't get distracted by any stimuli.

Through Skinner perspectives, my behaviour would have been a representation of intermittent reinforcement as I would have had got marshmallows and pritzel after I waited for an unknown amount of time. The time was varying and unpredictable but the reward was fulfilling. If I would have had called the experimenter before his usual time then I could have had missed out on a reward and thus, would have had got negative punishment. My behaviour also shows that I have a positive and effective self control as I waited for a long time and the reward will be said to have an external social control on me.