Inkshedding experiment

“One of Mischel’s favorite metaphors for this model of personality, known as interactionism, concerns a car making a screeching noise.”

The car making a screeching noise represents the child masking its eyes to hide from the marshmallow. (a) Screeching noises can distract from other immediacies, as can noise from a child who wants to delay their gratification. (b) This is particularly relevant in Lehrer’s discussion of delayed gratification, because the child-subject can learn or be taught strategies to forestall gratification. These skills can be mastered, resulting in all kinds of future benefits for the tested. (c) These benefits stem from the possible metaphor of the screeching car, or the young child covering his or her eyes. (d)


A psychologist, in this example, represents a mechanic whose job it is to determine the source of the noise. Depending his observations (such as the origin of the sound, intensity, and other observational patterns)

Four Loko is the opposite of this study of self-control. Mischel wants his subjects to be able to fight their need of instant gratification, and be able to resist. Four Loko is completely and totally a sinful immediate form of gratification. (e) People need to “screech the car” by keeping their mind from Four Loko. (f)