Patience is a virtue… or so I’ve heard.
Delayed gratification has been a huge topic in my family’s home, especially since we flipped the calendar to 2013.
Three words: New Year’s resolutions. Make that six: Failing to keep New Year’s resolutions… especially the ones that challenge you to delay a reward.
That’s us.
And by us, I mean me. Well, me and my 8-year-old. But, she didn’t resolve to be more patient in 2013. That was my Christmas wish that she didn’t deliver.
Of course, if I listened to the experts, I would have known that resolving to lose weight or mustering the strength to refrain from giving into any immediate urge was going to be challenging.
Scientists that study human behavior say that very few people are able to endure the wait for bigger and better outcomes. Apparently, the world is filled with impulsive people who choose immediate rewards simply because they dislike waiting. What’s more, many of those people are parents who are clearly setting a poor example for their offspring in regards to delayed gratification.
Researchers say that while impulsive individuals have a preference for immediacy, their counterparts believe good things come to those who wait. A recent study conducted at Washington University in St. Louis found patient people have increased activity in the region of the brain that focuses on future events. Conversely, impatient people don’t show the same level of brain activity.
So does this mean that children with impatient parents are doomed to inherent the impulsiveness? Researchers don’t have concrete answers, but suggest parents do their best to resist rash behavior. By doing so, you will not only be able to potentially avoid negative consequences, but you’ll also be setting a good example for your impressionable children.
What types of techniques do you use to model patience?