Abstract

This 90-minute workshop is designed for in-person learning and offers an engaging, practical, and research-informed exploration of the neuroscience and psychology behind instant and delayed gratification. In today’s fast-paced, digitally driven world, the tendency to seek immediate relief or reward has never been more prevalent. This pattern affects decision-making, emotional regulation, and long-term goal achievement—issues that show up frequently in clinical settings. Participants will gain insight into the brain's reward system, specifically how dopamine pathways reinforce short-term rewards and impulsive behaviors. The presentation will explore the ways in which modern technologies—like smartphones, social media, and on-demand services—hijack these systems and create patterns that can hinder personal growth and mental wellness. Through a clinical lens, we will examine how these tendencies manifest in anxiety, depression, substance use, compulsive behaviors, and other mental health conditions. Importantly, the workshop incorporates a strong social justice and anti-racist framework. We'll look at how power, privilege, and oppression shape the conditions under which individuals and communities are able—or unable—to delay gratification. Systemic inequities often limit access to future-oriented thinking by placing people in a state of constant survival, where immediate needs take precedence. By bringing awareness to these social determinants, social workers can more compassionately and effectively support diverse clients and communities. Interactive elements will include real-world case studies, reflective questions, and small-group discussions to help participants apply the material directly to their clinical practice. Evidence-based strategies—drawn from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and strengths-based approaches—will be introduced as tools for helping clients shift from impulsive decision-making to intentional, values-based action. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to identify at least three ways instant gratification manifests in client behavior and decision-making.
2. Participants will gain evidence-based strategies to help clients strengthen delayed gratification skills in service of long-term goals.
3. Participants will explore how concepts of power, privilege, and systemic inequity impact a person’s capacity for delayed gratification and how to respond through a culturally responsive lens.