Psychological Distance
Last week, I told you that compared to 50 years ago, kids today are better at delaying gratification. Why is the capacity for self-control on the rise? Stephanie Carlson, the scientist responsible for this discovery, is one of my close collaborators. I called to ask her what she thinks. “Children today are better at symbolic thinking,” Stephanie told me. “And symbolic thinking facilitates self-control.” “Symbolic thinking means mentally representing objects and events in ways that extend beyond the here-and-now,” Stephanie explained. “These mental transformations help put psychological distance between you and temptations.”
2017 ◽
Vol 48
(4)
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pp. 433-439
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2016 ◽
Vol 7
(4)
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pp. 5-18
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2015 ◽
Vol 61
(3)
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pp. 147-174
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2017 ◽
Vol 31
(2)
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pp. 78-89
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2015 ◽
Vol 29
(1)
◽
pp. 26-32
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2017 ◽
Vol 38
(3)
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pp. 175-188
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