While we were learning the human digestive system, children did a short version of the famous Pavlov's experiment. They thought of their favourite food and observed how their mouth waters. The digestion process starts just at the thought of food. Our body and mind is driven by the sensory inputs.
Some years back scientists discovered yet another powerful effect. Something like an anti-Pavlov effect. This looks at how children resist reflexes and what happens to these children. In the now famous experiment, children (age 5-7) were give a chocolate. They were asked to wait till the teacher returned after 15 minutes if they wanted another chocolate. Not surprisingly, most children ate their chocolates and a few resisted the temptation (about 2/3 and 1/3, respectively). It turns out that those who resisted the temptation went on to do exceptionally well in higher studies. Those of who ate the chocolate many became school drop-outs. The study is now well established and suggests that - learning to delay gratification may be a major factor in doing well in studies.
When I talked about this experiment in the class, they all wanted to try it out- and so we did. This time I raised the stakes by saying that they may eat chocolate only after dinner and they should not talk about this to anyone till then. I admit that I had primed them by telling about the experiment - but the 'delayed-gratification' part was still valid. To not eat is ok but 'not talk about it' is a serious challenge for a 9-10 year-old.
I was expecting a scandal in school about chocolates being distributed in class by teacher. Other classes demanding their share of chocolates. To my surprise, there was no sign of it till the end of the school-day. Children had managed to keep mum. Now they are off to a short vacation. When they return I will find out if they really did wait till dinner time - before telling their parents.
PS : Back from vacation, I asked them. Most children did not eat the chocolates till after the dinner. There were a few who came and told me 'they had eaten it in the school itself - because the chocolates were melting in their pockets'. I notice that children like to be challenged - may be I need to raise the stakes higher next time.
Did they?
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