Rethinking Delay of Gratification: A Remote Procedure Across Five Countries

Delay of gratification has been conceptualized as a self-regulatory ability governed by the balance between “hot” emotional and “cool” cognitive systems. However, initial urge intensity may also be shaping children’s ability to delay. In the present study, we examined whether age contributed to differences in the consumption of M&M sweets in the delay of gratification and a baseline spontaneous intake condition, which served as an indicator of initial urge intensity. The study was conducted in 186 children aged 5 to 10 years across Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia, representing the first remote adaptation of the delay of gratification task. The results showed that older children consumed less across both conditions, and that this effect was found to be moderated by inhibition. These results suggest that baseline urge intensity may represent a shared mechanism underlying delayed gratification and spontaneous intake, with implications for understanding the development and support of self-control.