Generalized self-control of delay and effort.

Studied the effects of delayed reward and rewarded effort on subsequent generalized self-control involving delay and effort in 88 2nd and 3rd graders. Different groups of Ss received immediate reward or delayed reward for low effort or for high effort on a combination of tasks that involved object counting, picture memory, and shape matching. Self-control involving delay was measured by providing the Ss with choices between waiting for a large reward vs receiving a small reward without waiting, and self-control involving effort was measured by means of choices between copying nonsense words for a large reward vs receiving a small reward without copying. Delayed reward increased subsequent self-control involving delay without affecting self-control of effort. Rewarded high effort increased subsequent self-control involving effort without affecting self-control of delay. Results suggest that (a) adaptation to delay reduces its aversiveness and (b) the degree of effort sustained in rewarded tasks becomes learned and generalizes across behaviors. It is concluded that the generalized effects of delayed reward and rewarded high effort may contribute to individual differences in the willingness to postpone gratification in pursuit of long-term goals. (72 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)