Smart & Good High Schools - The Flippen Group

CHAPTER 5: Fostering the 8 Strengths of Character—Outcome 6Outcome 6:SELF-DISCIPLINED PERSONA SELF-DISCIPLINED PERSON WHO PURSUES AHEALTHY LIFESTYLE . . .◆ Demonstrates self-control across a wide rangeof situations◆ Pursues physical, emotional, and mental health◆ Makes responsible personal choices that contributeto ongoing self-development, a healthylifestyle, and a positive future.In the now famous “marshmallow test” conducted byWalter Mischel and colleagues at Stanford University,Mischel offered 4-year-old children a proposal: If theycould delay eating one marshmallow until he ran “anerrand,” he would give them two marshmallows when hereturned. If they decided they couldn’t wait, they couldeat the marshmallow immediately, but that would be theonly one they would get.Some 4-year-olds devoured the marshmallow within secondsafter the experimenter left. Others, however, waitedthe 15-20 minutes for his return and earned the secondmarshmallow. They used a variety of self-control strategiesto manage this feat: covering their eyes, resting theirheads in their arms, talking or singing to themselves, playinggames with their hands, and even trying to go tosleep.Performance on the “marshmallowtest” at age 4 predicted importantadolescent outcomes.The study tracked its subjects and compared the “grabbers”with the “waiters” when they were about to graduatefrom high school. The ability to delay gratification on themarshmallow test at age four predicted a number ofimportant social and academic outcomes. Those who haddemonstrated high self-control at four were, as teenagers:Either we rule our desires, or ourdesires rule us.—PROVERB◆ better able to make plans and follow through on them◆ more likely to embrace challenges and persevere in theface of difficulty◆ more self-confident, self-reliant, and dependable◆ better able to delay gratification in pursuit of goals◆ better able to cope with stress◆ more eager to learn and better able to concentrate◆ more academically competent. (On average, their SATscores were more than 100 points higher than those ofthe children who grabbed the marshmallows.) 1Remarkably, self-control as measured by the marshmallowtest was more than twice as powerful as IQ at age 4 in predictingadolescent SAT scores. Other research has alsoshown childhood impulse control to be a stronger predictorof juvenile delinquency than IQ. 2Mischel concluded: The ability to regulate an impulse inthe pursuit of a goal is a “meta-ability,” determining howwell or how poorly we use our other capacities.Self-Control and Quality of LifeAs Mischel’s experiment demonstrates, Outcome 6, Self-Disciplined Person, is necessary in order to realize ourtrue human potential—mentally, physically, emotionally,and morally.Self-discipline forms the backbone of both excellence andethics. What frequently separates a great athlete, musician,or artist from an average or not-so-good one? Theability to sacrifice, delay gratification, and discipline theself in pursuit of a goal. What frequently separates a greatparent, spouse, or community member from an averageor not-so-good one? The ability to sacrifice, delay gratification,and discipline the self in pursuit of a goal.Aristotle ranked temperance highon his list of virtues.Through history, self-discipline—the control of ourappetites, impulses, and passions—has been considered amark of good character. In his book The Moral Sense, politicalscientist James Q. Wilson notes that Aristotle placedtemperance high on his list of virtues and devoted a fullchapter to it in Nichomachean Ethics. 3 Aristotle ranked temperancealong with justice and courage as states of characterthat are always and everywhere required of anyonewe would call good. Wilson comments:159Smart & Good High Schools