A Step in the Right Direction Tiffany Smiecinski August 7, 2008 BOOTCAMP.

A Step in the Right A Step in the Right DirectionDirection

Tiffany SmiecinskiTiffany Smiecinski

August 7, 2008August 7, 2008

BOOTCAMPBOOTCAMP

ProblemProblem I used to run on an everyday basis, but in the past I used to run on an everyday basis, but in the past

year it has gone on an increasingly downward slopeyear it has gone on an increasingly downward slope But why??But why?? Because the outcome of gaining slightly better Because the outcome of gaining slightly better

health is too small to control my behavior…health is too small to control my behavior…

May 2007 May 2008

Competing ContingenciesCompeting Contingencies

……Or in other words, there are Or in other words, there are several other things I could do that several other things I could do that would be more effective than would be more effective than gaining a slightly higher level of gaining a slightly higher level of health such as:health such as:– Studying flashcardsStudying flashcards– Doing homeworkDoing homework– Watching TVWatching TV– Hanging out with friendsHanging out with friends

Natural Competing Natural Competing ContingencyContingency

Less timeto hangout with friends

Will be able to hang out with friends

Run once

BEFORE AFTERBEHAVIOR

The SM InterventionThe SM Intervention Target behavior: RunningTarget behavior: Running

Intervention: I have to run 4 days a weekIntervention: I have to run 4 days a week

– I will lose $2 for everyday I miss (Avoidance I will lose $2 for everyday I miss (Avoidance

of the loss of a reinforcer)of the loss of a reinforcer)

Deadline (SDeadline (SDD): Midnight Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun): Midnight Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun

PM manager: My roommate, KatiePM manager: My roommate, Katie

Start Date: June 10, 2008Start Date: June 10, 2008

End Date: Still in progress…..for nowEnd Date: Still in progress…..for now

Ineffective Natural Ineffective Natural ContingencyContingency

Slightly greater

levelof health

Given level of health

Runonce

BEFORE AFTERBEHAVIOR

Performance-Management Performance-Management ContingencyContingency

Will notlose$2

Will Lose

$2

Runonce

BEFORE AFTERBEHAVIOR

Inferred Theoretical Inferred Theoretical ContingencyContingency

No fearof losing

$2

Fear ofLosing $2

Runonce

BEFORE AFTERBEHAVIOR

Target Behavior GraphTarget Behavior Graph

Benefit MeasureBenefit Measure•Since I haven’t had as much energy as I used to, my main reason to start running again was to hopefully increase my energy levels to where they used to be•So I created a rating scale of 1-10 to measure my levels of energy•1=very little energy•5=moderate amount of energy•10=a lot of energy

Problems During Problems During InterventionIntervention

The main problem I came across The main problem I came across was forcing myself to actually was forcing myself to actually leave my house to get to the leave my house to get to the treadmilltreadmill

And it seemed like losing $2 wasn’t And it seemed like losing $2 wasn’t very aversive for me…very aversive for me…

RecycleRecycle

……so I recycled that consequence so I recycled that consequence

and changed it to a loss of $5, and changed it to a loss of $5,

which was a more aversive which was a more aversive

outcome for meoutcome for me

My Results My Results The intervention was a success!!The intervention was a success!! I not only was reaching of my goal I not only was reaching of my goal

of running 4 times a week,of running 4 times a week, I also increased my energy levels I also increased my energy levels

to where they used to be!to where they used to be!

Me after intervention

My CommentsMy Comments

Self-Management has come to my Self-Management has come to my rescue once again. rescue once again.

Hopefully I will be able to continue this Hopefully I will be able to continue this project after bootcamp is over and project after bootcamp is over and possibly implement some additional possibly implement some additional ones that are in serious need of helpones that are in serious need of help

THANK YOU!!THANK YOU!!

Any Questions or

Comments?