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Uncommitted Commitment: Behavioral Strategy to Prevent Preference Reversals

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Abstract

When both smaller–sooner (SS) and larger–later (LL) rewards are temporally distal, individuals frequently prefer the LL. However, because both outcomes become proximal, individuals frequently switch to preferring the SS. These preference reversals are predicted by hyperbolic delay discounting, and may model the essential challenge of self-control. Using smokers, a population known to have high rates of delay discounting, and thus more vulnerable to preference reversals, this pilot study sought to examine soft commitment as a strategy that may prevent preference reversals. Eleven smokers were assigned to an experimental commitment condition, operationalized as 3 weeks of daily commitment trials indicating preference between an SS and LL. Ten smokers were assigned to a control commitment condition. These 3 weeks were followed by 8 days of daily choice trials indicating preference between an impending SS and LL, for both experimental and control conditions. Though no overall difference of preference was observed between groups during the choice trials, hierarchical linear modeling revealed a decrease in preference for the LL over time by the control group (e.g., increasing trend of preference reversals) but no changes by the experimental group. This pilot study provides an initial indication that soft commitment can facilitate choice persistence and prevent preference reversals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Richard Yi, Anahi Collado & Jama Bettis

  2. University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Hannah Milhorn

  3. Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Kayla N. Tormohlen

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  1. Richard Yi
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  2. Hannah Milhorn
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  3. Anahi Collado
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  4. Kayla N. Tormohlen
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  5. Jama Bettis
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Correspondence to Richard Yi.

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This project was funded by National Institute of Drug Abuse grants R01 DA11692 (RY), K02 DA034767 (RY), and T32DA007292 (KNT). The authors thank the numerous undergraduate research assistants who contributed to recruitment and data collection on this project. None of the authors have any conflicts of interests to declare.

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Yi, R., Milhorn, H., Collado, A. et al. Uncommitted Commitment: Behavioral Strategy to Prevent Preference Reversals. Perspect Behav Sci 43, 105–114 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-019-00229-8

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