Instant gratification - good or bad thing?

Are people who crave instant gratification just ambitious? Driving for success?

Or is this a bad thing because the quicker people get the things they want, the less they learn about working hard and being patient? Does it make problems like Attention Deficit Disorder even worse?

It makes me wonder with children. My one niece in particular is exhausting. She has to be doing something at all times, God forbid she should be bored. And she's 9!

Maybe I'm just getting old, but when I was her age, I could be content reading a book in a quiet room. Reading books is too sloooooow for them.

Re: Instant gratification - good or bad thing?

I think it depends (yeah, I know, lame answer... but be patient, and you'll get my explanation... )


As a whole, I think it's better to be able and willing to work and wait for something. I don't buy things unless I have the money in my "play toy" account. No money, no toys. It makes for more appreciation of the item, and the work that is needed to obtain it.

However, some things are good to want instant gratification. It's a good way to relieve stress. "I want some icecream.... Yeah, here it is! ". Sometimes you need a break from waiting, and just need some impulse things once in a while. Not just purchases, but trips, comments, acts, etc. Random Acts of Kindness is a good thing.

Re: Instant gratification - good or bad thing?

i agree! i work in a school, and its amazing what these kids just don't know and don't learn becasue they can't focus, and can't just sit down and read. they're so used to everything being so fast paced and quick, that they don't know how to just sit down and "be" for a little while. also, their parents are so busy that they don't spend time talking to the kids and teaching them things- they just put them in front of the video games or turn on the DVD player in the car.
i had a 10 year old last year who couldn't even do anything when he was asked to talk about the beach during a storm... you're 10!! you haven't seen a storm before?!
so, i think this instant gratification is affecting us in more ways then just making us impatient.

Re: Instant gratification - good or bad thing?

Re: Instant gratification - good or bad thing?

I read too different topic in your post.

Instant gratification and the need to be "busy" all the time also

In term of instant gratification, yes some people want it all right away. While I like instant gratification I have als learned to be patient for some things.

I actually heard/read that young children should not be on the computer right away. That they should stil play with building blocks, etc.. The reasoning is that, yes, they will be frustrated when the blocks fall all the time but it builds patience. Compared t the computer who gives instant gratification.

In term of having to be busy all the time. I feel the parents should be doing the filtering of those activities. I feel that the more a child does, the more "gratifying" it is for the parents.