It’s Not About Self-Control

Though self-control certainly plays a part in delaying gratification, using it to completely explain why people can’t stop themselves is both misguided and unhelpful. It's depends on other factors like:

1. Trust- It’s only rational to delay gratification if and only if you believe you will receive that long-term reward. When you’re unsure of getting the results you’re holding out for, it can be rational to not wait and instead indulge.
2. Environment- In situations where your environment threatens you and causes you to feel insecure or uncertain, most of us go YOLO.
3. Emotions- Research shows that when in emotional distress, our desire to feel better overrides our decision-making, resulting in immediate gratification