Casey Flashcards
1
Q
Aim
A
- Does delay gratification in children
- predict impulse control abilities & sensitivity
- to alluring or social cues
at behavioral + neural lvl - when in 40s?
2
Q
Research Method
A
Quasi/Natural exp (Longitudinal)
LAB Procedure
+ : controls
- : unnatural
3
Q
Sample (bg)
A
- 4yrs: 562 ppts (marshmallows)
- 20y: 155 ppts (self-control scales)
- 30y: 135 (self-control)
4
Q
Sample (Main)
A
40y: 117 divided into high/low delayers based on
> gratification performance
> self-control measures
- EXP1: 59 (32 h.d)
- EXP2: 27 (15 h.d)
5
Q
Variables
A
- IV: high or low delayer (naturally occurring ~ ✕ manipulated)
- DV2: behaviour - impulse control measured by reaction time + accuracy
- DV2: neural - measured by fMRI scan results
6
Q
Procedure 1
A
- self-control measured by go/no-go task
- ppts push button when see stimuli + not push when see diff one
- go = push (eg. male when stimulus = sex)
- no go = don’t push
- hot cues (elicits instant emotional response) identical to cool (takes emotion away from stimulus ~ neutral) except stimulus = fearful/happy face
7
Q
Procedure 2
A
- 27 ppts from E1 agreed to fMRI while doing go/no go tasks
8
Q
Results 1
A
- both groups highly accurate in correct responses to ‘go’ trials in both cool & hot conditions (99.8% & 99.5%)
- low delayers made more errors in responses to no go trials in hot conditions
9
Q
Results 2
A
Low Delayers:
- reduced activity in inferior frontal gyrus (associated w deciding when to resist or not)
- high activity esp on hot no go trials in ventral striatum (responds to positive emotions + rewards)
opposite for high delayers
10
Q
Conclusion 1
A
- overall no/no go tasks produced differences between delay groups only in hot cues
- individuals who had more difficulty delaying gratification (putting off smth pleasurable to gain reward later) at 4y aka l.d showed more difficulty as adults in suppressing responses to happy faces than h.d
11
Q
Conclusion 2
A
- ability to resist temptation is supported by neural networks in brain:
> l.d hv lowered activity in in inferior frontal gyrus + increased in ventral striatum
12
Q
Sampling bias/Ethnocentirsm
A
- 562ppts –> 27
> ~ biased ; only certain type of ppl to persist w experiment - same area of USA, all from Stanford Uni Nursery
> probs hv same bg & parents work at uni ~ ✕ represent all society
13
Q
Ethics
A
- ✓ informed consent ; volunteered
- ✕ fMRI stressful
14
Q
Type of data
A
Quantitative
- objective, comparison, ez to analyse
15
Q
Validity
A
- ecological: low, pics of faces ✕ realistic & ✕ mimic irl
- internal: high ; controls eg. how long faces shown
