Gratification's the positive emotional reaction of happiness in response to a fulfillment of a desire. Maturity's often defined as the ability of deferred gratification (patience), and progress as the real or imagined perception of movement towards gratification. Western culture's sometimes criticized for its emphasis on instant gratification, for example, the conscious expenditure of effort to make the time interval between wanting something and getting it as short as possible. This focus may b… (More on Gratification)