Interactional Psychology Paper

The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment is a well-recognized study on delayed gratification. This study was conducted in 1972 by Walter Mischel, a Stanford University professor. In this experiment, a child was offered a choice between a small, immediate reward or two small rewards if they waited for a specified period of time. In follow-up studies, researchers proposed that children who were able to wait longer for the reward had better life outcomes.

Select an interaction from your past working or school experiences that you remember well. Examples include interactions at a holiday party or company meeting.

Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper on the interaction, the relation of the interaction with the Marshmallow Experient and delayed gratification, along with biological and social determinants that contribute to personality.

Address each of the following, providing research to support your discussion:

1. Describe the interaction in the introductory paragraph, including any critical behaviors.
2. What are some predictors of the behaviors of different individuals in the interaction? According to Rotter, what are their needs?
3. Is the behavior produced by culture or the situation in which the person is involved?
4. How does the interaction relate to delayed gratification? What were the immediate rewards? Why is it important?