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


哪些因素导致孩子延迟满足，以后坚持以获得更大的奖励，而不是现在获得较小的奖励？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由通过在社会文化背景下形成的习惯所采用的毫不费力的控制来支持。具体来说，在等待是有益的和社会价值的社会文化背景下，儿童更有可能等待更大、更延迟的奖励，并在这些背景和等待奖励之间形成关联。这些后天的习惯使等待回报成为可能，而不需要大量的认知努力。基于这个新颖的框架，我们重新考虑了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。