Category Archives: Traits

Kahneman talks to Mischel about Traits and Self-Control

I found this video on YouTube (Christan G.) with little information about the source of the discussion. I think it is a valuable historic document and I am reposting it here because I am afraid that it may be deleted from YouTube and be lost.

Highlights

Kahneman “We are all Mischelians.”

Kahneman “You [Mischel] showed convincingly that traits do not exist but you also provided the most convincing evidence for stable traits [when children delay eating a marshmallow become good students who do not drink and smoke.]

Here is Mischel’s answer to a question I always wanted him to answer. In short, self-control is not a trait. It is a skill.