This post discusses a study of parents offering rewards like stickers to kids after eating a vegetable. After a few weeks, the kids who were generally rewarded were offered the veggie with no reward, and they actually chose to eat the veggie. So, in essence, providing a reward actually produced the desired change.
If we use rewards to help us or others develop a change, will we be more successful? My first thought is, "I'm an adult! I know when I stick to a change and when I don't - and that's good enough for me!"... But is it? Maybe it's time we start rewarding ourselves (or organizations).
Another interesting point in this article is that the kids received stickers - unrelated to the food. Does it make sense for us to keep our rewards separate? For example, if you are trying to change your gym habits and you make it 7 days in a row, maybe you should reward yourself with a massage rather than a day off from the gym. If you eat your veggies for 7 days in a row, you shouldn't reward yourself with Oreos - choose a movie instead.
I'm going to do some more research on rewards. I'm really nerding out.
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