What is meant by delay of gratification? Why is it considered important for adult development?

(i) Learning to delay or defer from gratification of needs is called self-control. It emerges from self-regulation.

(ii) Self-regulation is behavioural component of self.

(iii) It refers to an ability to organize and monitor ones own behaviour. People who can change their behaviour according to the demands of the external environment are high on self-monitoring.

(iv) Self-regulation leads to self-control.

(v) It plays a key role in fulfilment of long-term goals.

(vi) Indian culture provides us effective mechanisms like fasting (vrata or roza) and non-attachment with worldly things to develop self-control.

(vii) It is ones ability to say 'No'.

Psychological techniques to develop self-control are:

(a) Observation of Own Behaviour it provides us with necessary information that may be used to change, modify, or strengthen certain concepts of self.

(b) Self-instruction: We often instruct ourselves to do something and behave the way we want.

(c) Self-reinforcement: It involves rewarding behaviours that have pleasant outcomes (like going to see a movie with friends if we do well in exams).

— Self-control is important for the development of mature personality. This is the reason that all cultures emphasise the self-control. It helps in the fulfilment of long-term goals. Indian cultural tradition provide us with certain effective mechanisms, e.g., fasting in varta or roja and know attachment with worldly things for developing self-control.

— Self-control is also important for effective functioning of social network.