Michio Kaku: How can we predict success in humans?

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The brain evolved in three parts, from back to front: First, the so-called reptilian brain or spatial brain; then the monkey or social brain; and the most recently evolved section is the frontal lobe, which understands time.What's so special about this temporal ability? It allows humans to forecast into the future—to consciously plan, dream and strategize. That's a unique trait in the animal kingdom. Physicist Michio Kaku believes this trait may also define success among our species, as evidenced by the global correlation in the marshmallow test: Those who wait for the second marshmallow tend to be more successful in life. Listen to Kaku explain why that ability to look ahead and not take shortcuts may be an important predictor of success.

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MICHIO KAKU

Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-founder of string field theory, and is one of the most widely recognized scientists in the world today. He has written 4 New York Times Best Sellers, is the science correspondent for CBS This Morning and has hosted numerous science specials for BBC-TV, the Discovery/Science Channel. His radio show broadcasts to 100 radio stations every week. Dr. Kaku holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York (CUNY), where he has taught for over 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, as well as New York University (NYU).

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TRANSCRIPT:

MICHIO KAKU: Well, if you look at the history of the evolution of the brain itself, you realize that the brain is basically in three parts. The back of the brain is the so-called reptilian brain, the oldest brain, the brain of space, the brain of a reptile, that has to locate its prey, its mate, and understand its position in space; that's the back of the brain. As we evolved to the front, we evolved the monkey brain, the brain of society, hierarchy, emotions; the brain that tells you about manners, about etiquette, how to respect your elders. That's the central part of the brain, the monkey brain.

Then the front part of the brain is the most important part for us, that distinguishes us from the animals. You see, the animals have a back of the brain, the spatial brain. The animals have a social brain, like wolves. They have a pecking order in the center of the brain.

So what do we have? What do we have that the animals don't necessarily have? The front part of the brain governs time. It constantly thinks about the future. It constantly reruns alternate scenarios of what could be the future, plans, dreams, strategizes. Animals don't do that.

When animals hibernate, it's not that they say, 'Oh, I've got to hibernate. Time for me to get ready to hibernate.' Nope. Animals simply say: Instinct tells me I've got to get ready, and I've got to hibernate.

So what is it that makes humans different from animals? And how is it related to success as a human? It's the ability to see the future, to see the future in all its messiness, to be able to re-create scenarios of the future which are realistic.

Now, let's go to a psychologist and ask him a simple question: Is there a test that correlates children with success in life? That's a big question. Success in life and childhood—is there a test that you can perform? It's not perfect, of course. But yeah, there is a test that's been done around the world. You test kids, and a few decades later, you try to find out if they're successful or not.

And you find that, yes, there's one characteristic that does seem to correlate with success in life, lower divorce rate, higher income, higher social status. What is that one characteristic? It's measured by the marshmallow test. The marshmallow test—you give children the option of eating a marshmallow now or two marshmallows a few hours later. And then you follow these kids for decades in different countries. Now, it's not perfect, of course. But you'll find that there is a measurable correlation.

Now, what's the lesson here? The lesson is the kids who wanted two marshmallows later saw the future. They are the ones who want to plan, the ones who want to go to college, the ones who want to make something of themselves, that hold out. Now, who are the ones who simply get that first marshmallow? It's not perfect, but a lot of them want shortcuts, shortcuts in life, the easy way out.

Now, let's do a science experiment that all of us can perform. If...

[debrabarnhardt]

The marshmallow test was thoroughly debunked and the new study was discussed widely. What the new study proved is that a wealthy background leads children to trust in future rewards, poverty does not. In a similar vein breast feeding has been debunked as a securing a child's future when a new study proved (surprise) that wealthier women had the time and resources to breast feed along with a host of other things. Poor women just had less of everything, including, but least importantly, breast feeding. As a person who moved up to the middle class I was not the least bit surprised by the new studies. Rodrigo is right, wealth and poverty are the predictors. Studies with uncommon names in Europe have traced wealth across centuries! I'm the 1970s in my 101 level sociology class my textbook said the cause of poverty is poverty. We really need to pound this point because dislike and judgement of the poor has reached Victorian era levels in the USA.

[passaroquetemasanaovoa]

In fact, when I met my old friends from school (we are all on our 40s now), the ones that seems more likely to be successful are the ones who succeeded. But... They were also the ones that came from the richest families, the ones whom their families paid their studies until post-graduation (or even higher) level (this is normal in Brazil, if your family can afford it) and the ones that were referred to good positions in big companies by their families. I don’t know how things work in the US but I can assure you that in poor capitalist countries, the money and success stay in the hands of those who already own it.

[jubsology]

Summary: Don't go for shortcuts. Visualize future everyday.

[samTollefson]

I ate seven marshmallows watching this video but, I'm saving the rest of the bag for later.

[dariusd]

I thought that marshmallow test had issues and other follow-up studies highlighted kids in poverty have learned its better to eat now than wait because the future isn't promised. They learned agreements are broken, life isn't stable, and bad luck is around the corner. It's why even financially successful people that grew up in poverty still struggle with those old traits of worrying about money, hoarding, and other issues. I believe Malcom Gladwell's book touched on this.

[gurudra]

When you are capable of having control over your mind, you are destined for success. Right now the mind controls you

[omar_]

The marshmallow test reminds me of the Ant and Cockroach story. We were told that because the ant worked hard in Summer collecting food while the cockroach spent the time singing and dancing, the ant got to sleep in a warm house full of food in Winter, while the cockroach starved and froze. But in reality, we see the cockroaches invade the ants houses and eat the food ! And do not forget, they already enjoyed singing and dancing in Summer.!!

[onaraonari]

So glad to see mr Kaku on big think again!!

[Ffsdevgj]

We need parents who educate people like in this instance.

[carterscustomrods]

We can't, sadly. Due to one major factor... "Life".

You can be on the path to success (by whatever means you measure it) and BOOM.. Life happens. Health issues that effect so many of us can take it all away in a matter of seconds.

What makes us truly special though is the fact that we can change our view of success at any time.

So stop fighting for another persons measurement of success... Find your own!

[zoetele]

Michio Kaku, you have defined the success base of the standard of western culture. Base on some limitations and interpretations that a group of people thinks success should be. The ability to see the future, to plan, to go to college, getting a Ph.D., running simulation in our mind basically not taking a shortcut is how you defined success in life? Life is so much more than be successful with all of that my dear friend. Absolute control of the mind live life in total bliss, love,  absence of the ego is my definition of success in life.

[ThePresentation]

Well some significant factors in human success is environment, available programs, parents, and the spectrum of failure to thrive and being spoiled. Failure to thrive means the child isnt given significant amount of love in his infancy, childhood, thus the child fails to really have a strong set of 'love' (certain emotions), child may be cold and unable to focus or have strong tenacity.

Spoiled just means the kid has no worries, disregards hard work because he is aware there is a safety net and he doesnt need to exert decent effort.

[masonm]

You're still citing the marshmallow test? It doesn't measure planning. It measures trust. Kids in stable families are more likely to wait. Kids in unstable situations will take what they can while they can. Is it surprising that those kids have different outcomes that have nothing to do with patience or planning?

[ivansandoval]

I would pick two later, to trade them and buy stocks

[romeomatei]

Professor Michio Kaku did not heard that the “marshmallow experiment” was thoroughly debunked. Well, that is what you get when they ask a Physicist to explain a complex psychological notion.

[dollmonn]

This is one of the most important videos I saw in my life!

[jiraiyajackson]

He’s referring to intelligence, The ability to summon up alternative solutions per length of time

[adriangalvan]

I think a valuable point of the marshmallow test was something he forgot to mention:

Both set of kids new the value of waiting for the second marshmallow, but from observation, the kids who waited were successful at distracting themselves from the second marshmallow in a creative way; like playing a game, counting their fingers, etc.

The kids who ate the first marshmallow without waiting used willpower to try and wait for the second marshmallow and eventually broke down.

We all know to delay gratification. The problem is people either use will power or a creative means to keep you content until the time of achieving your goal; enjoying the process vs using will power to push through a grueling process

[marcethier]

Discipline, the root of so many good human qualities. The good news is, no one needs to tell you anything, you inside voice knows when you're letting yourself down.

[nomusic]

Taking a conscious action in life after scaling it on the basis of it's consequence : INTELLIGENCE.