Going without something in the present in the hope of achieving greater gains in the future is called

• A. Opportunity cost
• B. Delayed gratification
• C. Deferred gratification
• D. Self-control

Answer: (C)

Deferring gratification describes the act of postponing a present reward in hopes of a larger payoff later. It captures the deliberate choice to go without something now in order to gain more later, which is exactly what the prompt describes. Think of saving money instead of spending it, studying for a better future outcome, or sticking to a plan even when short-term pleasures are tempting. This framing highlights the self-control involved in choosing the long-term benefit over immediate satisfaction.

The other ideas are related but describe different aspects. Opportunity cost focuses on what you give up by choosing one option over another rather than on the act of postponing a reward itself. Self-control is the personal trait that makes it possible to defer gratification, but it isn’t the act itself. Delayed gratification is a closely related phrase, but the term here emphasizes the intentional postponement into the future, which is what makes deferred gratification the best fit.