psy 4600 self-management project

Please Consume Please Consume ResponsiblyResponsibly

Psychology 460Psychology 460

Anthony ZoulekAnthony Zoulek

TA: LaurenTA: Lauren

12/7/201112/7/2011

ProblemProblem

Beginning in early Beginning in early elementary school I elementary school I became the pudgy kid!! became the pudgy kid!! A problem that would A problem that would persist throughout most persist throughout most of my life. I prefer of my life. I prefer calling myself big calling myself big boned, fluffy, or boned, fluffy, or horizontally challenged.horizontally challenged.

Competing ContingenciesCompeting Contingencies

The ability to eat what I want The ability to eat what I want competes with consuming less competes with consuming less calories.calories.

In my current physical state if I see In my current physical state if I see a Reese’sa Reese’s®® Peanut Butter Cup, you Peanut Butter Cup, you can consider it consumed.can consider it consumed.

And remember… “There’s no And remember… “There’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’swrong way to eat a Reese’s®®” ”

Natural Competing Natural Competing ContingencyContingency

BEFORE AFTERBEHAVIOR

I can eat anything I

want

I consume less than

2000 calories

I can not eat anything I

want

“Don’t let hunger happen to you!” -Snickers®

The SM InterventionThe SM Intervention

Target behavior: Consuming over 2000 Target behavior: Consuming over 2000

daily calories.daily calories.

Intervention: Every day I consume over Intervention: Every day I consume over

1,500 calories, I pay $3 1,500 calories, I pay $3

– Contingencies: Analog to avoidance Contingencies: Analog to avoidance

(loss of a reinforcer)(loss of a reinforcer)

Deadline (SDeadline (SDD): Not applicable): Not applicable

PM manager: Initially Ryan (Roommate), PM manager: Initially Ryan (Roommate),

Followed by Jenn (girlfriend). Followed by Jenn (girlfriend).

Start Date: Monday, Sept. 19Start Date: Monday, Sept. 19thth 2011 2011

End Date: Sunday, Nov. 20End Date: Sunday, Nov. 20thth 2011 2011

Ineffective Natural Ineffective Natural ContingencyContingency

BEFORE AFTERBEHAVIOR

I have a given

weight

I consume less than

2000 calories

I have an infinite-simally lower weight

“Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat Bar” -Kit Kat®

Performance-Management Performance-Management ContingencyContingency

BEFORE AFTERBEHAVIOR

“ Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger.” -Butterfinger®

I will have to pay $3 at the end of the day

I consume 1,500

calories or less today

I will not have to pay

$3 at the end of the day

Caloric Intake GraphCaloric Intake GraphBaseline Intervention

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Weeks

Cu

mula

tive c

alo

ries

con

sum

ed

Goal Line 10,500

New Performance manager

Benefit Measure GraphBenefit Measure Graph

250

252

254

256

258

260

262

264

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Baseline SM

Weeks

Weig

ht

in L

bs.

“ A lighter way to enjoy chocolate.” –Three Musketeers®

RecycleRecycle

The new performance manager The new performance manager

was able to monitor me more was able to monitor me more

closely than the original.closely than the original.

She was assigned prior to week 7 She was assigned prior to week 7

and caloric intake progressively and caloric intake progressively

declined through week 9.declined through week 9.

“ Two for me, none for you” -Twix®

My Results My Results My weight after baseline was 260.2 My weight after baseline was 260.2

Lbs.Lbs. It then dropped to 252.4 by week 4.It then dropped to 252.4 by week 4. Week 5 and 6 increased it to 257 Week 5 and 6 increased it to 257

because of the 6 daily overages.because of the 6 daily overages. With the new manager I gradually With the new manager I gradually

went down and ended week 9 at 253.went down and ended week 9 at 253. I stopped my intervention due to I stopped my intervention due to

Thanksgiving approaching!Thanksgiving approaching! Early December’s weigh-in was Early December’s weigh-in was

259.6.259.6.

My CommentsMy Comments Overall, I did see a correlation Overall, I did see a correlation

between calories consumed and between calories consumed and weight. There are also confounding weight. There are also confounding variables such as; physical activity variables such as; physical activity and water weight.and water weight.

I temporarily changed my diet to I temporarily changed my diet to healthier alternatives, but I like food healthier alternatives, but I like food that is delicious and convenient.that is delicious and convenient.

Now that most, if not all of you have Now that most, if not all of you have candy… Isn’t it hard to resist candy… Isn’t it hard to resist temptation? I do believe so.temptation? I do believe so.

THANK YOU!!THANK YOU!!

Any Questions or

Comments?