What factors lead children to delay gratification, holding out for larger rewards later instead of taking smaller rewards now? Traditionally, delay of gratification has been associated with effortful control and willpower. However, we propose that delay of gratification may be partially supported by effortless control employed through habits shaped within sociocultural contexts. Specifically, in sociocultural contexts where waiting is rewarding and socially valued, children are more likely to wait for larger, delayed rewards and to form associations between these contexts and waiting for rewards. These acquired habits enable waiting for rewards without requiring substantial cognitive effort. Based on this novel framework, we reconsider why childhood delay of gratification predicts life outcomes, and the role of cognitive, social, and cultural factors.

中文翻译：

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文化习惯的力量：轻松控制在延迟满足中的作用


哪些因素会导致孩子延迟满足，推迟获得更大的奖励，而不是现在就获得较小的奖励？传统上，延迟满足与努力控制和意志力有关。然而，我们认为延迟满足可能部分受到社会文化背景下形成的习惯所采用的轻松控制的支持。具体来说，在等待是有益且具有社会价值的社会文化背景下，孩子们更有可能等待更大的、延迟的奖励，并在这些背景和等待奖励之间形成联系。这些习得的习惯使得无需大量认知努力就能等待奖励。基于这个新颖的框架，我们重新考虑为什么童年延迟满足可以预测生活结果，以及认知、社会和文化因素的作用。