Deferred Gratification and Social Class

Abstract

Summary The hypothesis of this study is that choice of immediate reward may be explained by variables other than impulse control. Ss were boys, 13 to 16 years old, stratified by social class and racial category. Questionnaire measures were taken of generalized attitudes on subjective power, optimism, delay, and risk-taking. After experimental manipulation of task comprehension, boys made choices between specific prizes under different conditions of delay and/or task performance. Boys trained on task principles chose the larger reward significantly more often than those not trained. Middle-class boys reported more favorable attitudes toward risk-taking and were more likely than lower-class boys to choose the immediate reward. Blacks reported less favorable attitudes toward risk-taking and were more likely to attribute control to external sources than were whites. High scores on optimism and risk-taking were associated with choice of larger reward. It was concluded that differences in preference for immediate reward are not a simple function of impulse control.