Does random reward evoke stronger habits?

Bound_up

http://measureofdoubt.com/2011/04/12/pulling-levers-killing-monsters-the-lure-of-unpredictable-rewards/ (how do I put a link like this in a word with blue letters?)

I've read that unpredictable rewards associated with a behavior actually encourage that behavior more effectively than consistent rewards.

The optimal habit-forming figure given in the link above is a 25% chance of reward for each instance of performing the behavior.

My hypothesis then, is that if I want to establish a habit by rewarding myself upon successfully performing a certain task, I should reward myself only 25% of the time if I want to ingrain the habit as forcefully as possible into my unconscious.

Anyone else think so, or have any other research to add?

http://measureofdoubt.com/2011/04/12/pulling-levers-killing-monsters-the-lure-of-unpredictable-rewards/ (how do I put a link like this in a word with blue letters?)

I've read that unpredictable rewards associated with a behavior actually encourage that behavior more effectively than consistent rewards.

The optimal habit-forming figure given in the link above is a 25% chance of reward for each instance of performing the behavior.

Anyone else think so, or have any other research to add?

You cannot impose a reward schedule on yourself...

I complete a task, I roll a d4 once, and in case of success I eat a chocolate. What exactly is the problem with this?

I am not a psychologist, but it seems at least plausible that getting a chocolate one time in four because you saw yourself roll a die and chose whether to eat a chocolate depending on the result might have different motivational effects than getting a chocolate one time in four according to some mechanism competely opaque to you.

5A4FB53AC11y

You could in principle very easily ignore the dice and eat the chocolate regardless. You need to take it upon yourself to follow through with the scheme and forfeit the chocolate 3 times out of 4. If you start with the understanding that chocolate is a possibility 4 times out of 4 if you followed a more permissive scheme, then you are effectively punishing yourself 3/4 of the time, which I expect would work as negative reinforcement for said task or the reward scheme in general. And it would also require enough willpower, which some people won't have.

0MrMind11y

d4 are bitches to roll! A d8 is much more fulfilling...