The longer the children deferred marshmallow gratification, the fewer behavioural problems they had later in school, and the better they did academically.12 Since then, self-control has become one of the main focuses of interest for psychology, and several studies have suggested it is a better predictor of academic success than IQ. It also predicts our financial stability, our job stability, even our marriage stability.13 Self-control appears to be the key character-strength.
