This was actually a behavioral experiment conducted years ago, seeming to correlate with SAT scores later in life. Here's the RadioLab segment on it:

http://blogs.wnyc.org/radiolab/2009/03/09/mischel’s-marshmallo ws/

Interesting to listen to. I totally would have eaten the marshmallow.

Were these kids starved first? I've never been that excited or tormented about a marshmallow.

it's cruel to dress twins in the same outfit

As a result of this experiment, that kid with the blond buzz cut is clearly going to go on to become a human rights lawyer prosecuting torture cases for the Hague.

Of course, when she came back they stuffed her behind a wall.

Man -- B.F. Skinner would've loved this. There's a whole section of Walden Two that sets up almost the same experiment, albeit with no reward.

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They probably left them alone for 45 seconds.
Kids gots no patience.

A marshmallow saved is a marshmallow earned.

Can we get classic experiments week on POETV? Can we get some motherfucking Berko-Gleason up in here and shit?

http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=60283

Go here if you want to hear Philip Zimbardo expound on this experiment for an hour.

If this had been a Japanese game show, when the kid bit the marshmallow sirens would have gone of with 200 decibel pig squeals and projected images of dead fat people all over the walls.

Or maybe if it had just been my game show.

I wish that they included more footage of the kids when the lady comes back with the other marshmallow.