Commitment Devices
Commitment devices help individuals follow through with behavior change by adding consequences or accountability. People who have repeatedly failed to change usually have difficulties with self-control, lack motivation, or make impulsive decisions. Using commitment devices means choosing the unwanted behavior will become more difficult or costly in different ways, thus encouraging the positive preferred behavior (Hodson, 2022).
For instance, a hard commitment might involve losing a deposit if a health-related aim is missed. In contrast, a soft commitment could involve revealing the health goal to friends or family for support. Using these mechanisms, one can have a structure and motivation they did not have on their own, which helps them stick to a new habit.
Contrary to other change strategies, commitment devices use reinforcement by an external factor to ensure action. Most traditional approaches do not deal directly with the mental biases and tricks that cause inconsistency. According to Fanaroff et al. (2023), commitment devices are unique because failure immediately comes with genuine consequences.
Moreover, the presence of unbiased referees who impose penalties means people involved in a matter are less likely to justify their actions or change their minds. Because of this framework, commitment devices are more likely to cause lasting behavior change.
Commitment devices empower health and wellness professionals to help people maintain positive behaviors for longer. In this way, such devices allow clients to track their progress and ensure accountability for those who have found it tough to maintain a daily routine. Strong support from healthcare professionals can help clients be confident in their progress by setting and achieving goals.
Moreover, having external referees makes it less likely that one will make excuses or act against their interests. Professionals can also personalize client support schedules regarding nutrition, fitness, and emotions through commitment strategies (Espinosa-Salas & Gonzalez-Arias, 2023). With this approach, the success rate goes up, and good habits are encouraged, which will benefit the health and satisfaction of clients in the future.
References
Espinosa-Salas, S., & Gonzalez-Arias, M. (2023, April 23). Behavior Modification for Lifestyle Improvement. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK592418/
Fanaroff, A. C., Coratti, S., Halaby, R., Sanghavi, M., O’Quinn, R. P., Krishnan, S., Glassberg, H., Bajaj, A., Adusumalli, S., Chokshi, N., & Patel, M. S. (2023). Feasibility and outcomes from using a commitment device and text message reminders to increase adherence to time-restricted eating: A randomized trial. American Heart Journal, 258, 85–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2022.12.010
Hodson, N. (2022). Commitment devices: Beyond the medical ethics of nudges. Journal of Medical Ethics, 49(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2021-107967
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Question
Week 7
Write a 300-word essay response to the following question. Type and double-space your response. When you are finished, upload the Word document to be graded using the dropbox below.
This week’s assignment:
- How do commitment devices produce change in people who have a history of failed attempts to change? What do commitment devices do differently from other ways in which people attempt change? How will understanding of this information help you as a health and wellness professional?
Commitment Devices
Reading Assignment:
Reference & Cite:
- LMFT, C.D. M. (2018). Behavior Modification. Lionel University Content. https://online.vitalsource.
com/books/BMC01S1807 - Unit 5 Part 2 pages 140-192

