The writer here makes what is either a sloppy mistake or a sleight of hand. He or she says that Mischel’s results have failed to replicate, and provides a link. But the link does not show a failure to replicate. It shows an explanation for why some people might act impulsively, namely that they come from unstable environments where promises are not trustworthy. In such cases, impulsivity may be rational. But this does not refute Mischel in the least. If the person who disbelieves the offer of delayed reward is actually offered a delayed reward, and acts impulsively because they don’t trust it, they will still have a lesser outcome than their counterpart who delays. Thus, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Far from contradicting Mischel, the linked piece makes it more poignant and urgent. Come on people. This isn’t rocket science. Read carefully. Think.
Update: It dawns on me now that the writer may have meant that the willpower depletion studies failed to replicate. But the link provided on the Mischel (Marshmallow) question was to someone who offered no refute at all, just a lot of excuses for why some people might not trust the delayed offer. Sloppy.
