Book Review: The Marshmallow Test: Mastering Self Control by Walter Mischel

I was a bit hesitant in picking up another book which dealt with how our brain is wired, as my earlier experience had me shelving ''Thinking Fast & Slow" midway. However, 'The Marshmallow Test: mastering Self Control, by Walter Mischel, is a surprisingly riveting, and research backed, account on 'self control' which is a delight for the gray cells! And before you start of grabbing one from the self help sections, hold on, as it is not a self help book!! However, it surely helps in clearing up your concepts on how the brain works, why some people are more good at self control than others, and tackles the question of whether self control can be learned or is it innate! The researchers have tracked respondents through a considerable period of time to arrive at conclusions and while nothing is absolute, it surely tells us something!

When one starts off, there is a high probability that the reader will be surprised on how even simple experiments like the Marshmallow Test can go on to yield significant findings in the domain of psychology (thanks to advances in brain activity mapping technologies). The book is paced well, with numerous examples put in to ensure reader interest. Curiously, while going through the book, I recollected many instances from my own upbringing wherein the habit of self control was embedded by default, which made me realize that self control has been an innate part of being brought up in the Indian society, particularly among the middle class section, and probably that is why we have been so successful, especially when other countries are economically on ventilator! Parents and teachers have been following what's the desirable behavior, as per the author, in bringing up children, thanks to practical experience and knowledge passed on via observation/word of mouth/folklore passed on through generations!!

And yes, the book gives hope to many who are not that much in control of themselves, as it highlights how self control can be learned (Note: It is no step by step guide) and utilized by willing individuals, and that it is not something which is inherent. I would recommend the book for everyone, from parents & teachers, to those studying in colleges and managing people, as understanding self control, mastering it, and rewarding it are valid goals for the entire human race! 

Caveat: As is with any research,, this one is also not sacrosanct. You would agree that there are many successful people who are not that good at self control, and many unsuccessful people with good self control skills. In fact, an individual may well be very good at self control in a particular context, say, anger, but very poor at some other aspect, and such instances (or fall from grace for some) have also been highlighted in the book. 

So, in short, the message is that the learning from the book should be used holistically rather than in a very narrow manner, as in a society, we need all sort of people, because even those who have mastered self control enjoy 'letting down their hair' every now and then.

Cover Image courtesy: https://newshour-tc.pbs.org/newshour/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/marshmallowtest.jpg