The trick, the researchers found, was that the good delayers were able to distract themselves.

WSJ: Why French Parents Are Superior by Pamela Druckerman

Results show that high delayers are more successful at not pressing the button in response to a smiling face.

NEWYORKER: Don��t!

Last summer, the scientists chose fifty-five subjects, equally split between high delayers and low delayers, and sent each one a laptop computer loaded with working-memory experiments.

NEWYORKER: Don��t!

Once Mischel began analyzing the results, he noticed that low delayers, the children who rang the bell quickly, seemed more likely to have behavioral problems, both in school and at home.

NEWYORKER: Don��t!

Following up in the mid-1980s, Mr. Mischel and his colleagues found that the good delayers were better at concentrating and reasoning, and didn't "tend to go to pieces under stress, " as their report said.

WSJ: Why French Parents Are Superior by Pamela Druckerman