Yi Richard, Milhorn Hannah, Collado Anahi, Tormohlen Kayla N, Bettis Jama
1Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA.
2University of Maryland, College Park, MD USA.
Perspect Behav Sci. 2019 Oct 28;43(1):105-114. doi: 10.1007/s40614-019-00229-8. eCollection 2020 Mar.
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 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.
当较小且较早（SS）和较大且较晚（LL）的奖励在时间上都较为遥远时，个体通常更喜欢LL。然而，由于两种结果都变得临近，个体常常会转而更喜欢SS。这些偏好逆转可以通过双曲线延迟折扣来预测，并且可能模拟自我控制的基本挑战。本试点研究以吸烟者为对象，这是一个已知延迟折扣率较高、因此更容易出现偏好逆转的群体，旨在检验一种可能防止偏好逆转的策略。11名吸烟者被分配到实验性承诺条件组，具体操作是进行为期3周的每日承诺试验，表明在SS和LL之间的偏好。10名吸烟者被分配到对照承诺条件组。在这3周之后，实验性和对照条件组都要进行为期8天的每日选择试验，表明在即期的SS和LL之间的偏好。虽然在选择试验期间两组之间未观察到总体偏好差异，但分层线性模型显示，对照组对LL的偏好随时间下降（例如，偏好逆转的增加趋势），而实验组则没有变化。这项试点研究初步表明，软性承诺可以促进选择的持续性并防止偏好逆转。
