The myth of willpower

What self-control is — and what it's not

When I was in grad school, I had the rare privilege of working with the original marshmallow kids—those cute preschool youngsters who, back in 1960s California, waited (or not) for an extra treat from a trusted researcher. By the time I saw their data and follow-ups, of course, they were no longer four-year-olds, but well into their 50s, and the results…