Pavlov's Dog as a way to stop daydreaming?

[Emily]

Pavlov's dog is the experiment where, if you're unaware, a bell would be rung and a dog would be fed a treat. This would happen a certain amount of times until the bell would be rung, and due to the repitition (if that's spelled wrong it's late and I'm tired >_<) and the dog was used to recieving a treat, the dog would autimatically begin to salivate.

 

Now, for whatever reason and before I recalled this experiment, I planned on carrying a bottle filled with Smarties and eat one every time I dd.

 

Recalling Pavlov's dog, I realized this could potentially have a negative effect, causing me to dd more. So, anyone want to give me some feedback? (Answer the questions be it numbered, or simply throw in your 2 cents willy-nilly, I don't care, I'll read all comments anyway X))

 

1. Do you think this could potentially work? As in, when you catch yourself daydreaming, you eat something bad, snap your wrist with a rubberband (something I tried when attempting to stop biting my nails), etc?

2. Do you believe, if it worked and you stopped dd/dd less, this would have a negative effect on your imagination in general?

3. What would your "dog treat" be?

4. Will you be trying this? Have any ideas? Feedback please! :)

[greyartist]

hmmm, interesting. If I tried the rubber band thing I'd have a very sore wrist. I look forward to seeing other suggestions, it could work.

[Shadow Cat Sam]

Operant Conditioning (Pavlov) holds that positive reinforcement is much better for long term changes in behavior  than is positive punishment. The rubber band is punishment; have you considered trying  reinforcement instead? 

I have tried both routes over the years with only limited success. 

[Angela E]

Well, a lot of scientists believe that what you are talking about---classical conditioning---is our main way of learning.  It can be through positive reinforcement, like your smarties, or negative reinforcement, like snapping a rubber band.  It's pretty easy to isolate and make work in a lab, but the problem is that the real world setting is a lot more complex.  

We DD, I think, because we get an immediate emotional reward from it.  It's instant gratification.  That instant reward comes faster and so is more closely associated with the DD.  Just like the dogs got fed right after the bell rang.  There was not a 10 minute period in between or anything.  It was an instant association.  On the other hand, when we put effort into the real world, our gratification and rewards are often delayed.  Thus those behaviors involving effort in the real world are often not reinforced and conditioned, because the good things they bring about happen so far in advance.

So, I think that using classical conditioning to pair up an instant reward with things we want to do (like not procrastinate, study, do chores, etc) is a good option.  A lot of psychologists recommend rewarding yourself after completing tasks you typically dread.  I like to go for a walk or have some chocolate or read some of a good book.  Really, anything that has a reward factor for you will work.

I think the main problem with using classical conditioning to STOP fantasies is that we would have to use a negative stimulus that was stronger in a negative way than the positive reward we get from DD.  To me, that would require something really really negative, because my fantasies give me so much of an emotional reward.  I just can't envision what kind of thing would be...something that you will actually stick to every single time, will be more awful than your DDs are good, and will not hurt you.  It probably wouldn't hurt, and some counselors have tried using this as a form of addiction therapy.  I personally haven't heard of any studies that indicate it is very successful, but like I said...it probably won't hurt.  :)

[Wish Upon A Wish]

I tried snapping a rubber band on my wrist about a week ago. It worked for a day, then I just decided I didn't want to snap it 'cause I like my fantasy too much, and so I consciously chose not to snap it when I started fantasizing. So it kind of didn't work. And then a few days ago I suddenly realized the rubber band had vanished from my wrist. I've no idea where it could've gone, either.

[Geingart]

DD too much has wiped out my willpower. If you don't have willpower to stop daydreaming it's possible you will don´t have willpower to do whatever you want to link with daydreaming.