Why Superman Can Wait: Cognitive Self-Transformation in the Delay of Gratification Paradigm

Abstract

We examined middle-class Israeli preschoolers’ cognitive self-transformation in the delay of gratification paradigm. In Study 1, 66 un-caped or Superman-caped preschoolers delayed gratification, half with instructions regarding Superman's delay-relevant qualities. Caped children delayed longer, especially when instructed regarding Superman's qualities. In Study 2 with 43 preschoolers, with the respective relevant superhero qualities emphasized (i.e., patient vs. impulsive), Superman-caped children tended to delay longer than Dash-caped children. In Study 3, 48 preschoolers delayed gratification after being instructed to pretend to be Superman or a child with the same patient qualities, or after watching a video of Superman, with or without pretend instructions. Invoking Superman led to longer delays and instructions regarding Superman's qualities tended to lead to longer delays than watching the Superman video. In accounting for the data, we differentiated cognitive transformations of the reward's consummatory value and cognitive transformations as basic intellectual processes.

Notes

¹It should be noted that Sontag, Baker, and Nelson (1958) found correlations of .46 between assessments of IQ at age 3 and age 12; Wilson (1983) reported higher correlations, of about .60 between IQ assessed at age 3 and at age 15, but no correlations were reported with age 18, which is the relevant age for the current discussion.

²Written parental consent is not required by Israeli law.

³When girls explained why they took off the cape, they tended to explain that Superman is not a girl; boys who took off the cape explained that they didn't want it on. The number of children who were able to justify cape removal was not large enough to conduct analyses.

Note: Criterion wait time = 20 min, χ²(3) = 13.12, p < .005.