Self-Control Strategies

Since we are at least partly aware of our weaknesses, we sometimes take steps to engage outside help. We make lists to help us remember what to buy (and not buy) at the grocery store. We buy an alarm clock to help us get up in the morning. We ask friends to stop us from having dessert or to fortify our efforts to quit smoking. We buy cars that have all sorts of nudges, warning us when we are in a dangerous situation. In these cases, our Planners are taking steps to control the actions of our Doers, often by trying to change the incentives that Doers face.

Unfortunately, Doers are often difficult to rein in (think of controlling Homer Simpson), and they can foil the best efforts of Planners. Alarm clocks, even those embedded in our phones, are illuminating examples. The optimistic Planner sets the alarm for 6:15 a.m., hoping for a full day of work, but the sleepy Doer turns off the alarm and goes back to sleep until 9:00. This can lead to fierce battles between the Planner and the Doer. Some Planners put the alarm clock on the other side of the room, so the Doer at least has to get up to turn it off, but if the Doer crawls back into bed, all is lost. Fortunately, enterprising firms sometimes offer to help the Planner out.

Consider the Clocky alarm clock, pictured in Figure 2.1. Clocky is the “alarm clock that runs away and hides if you don’t get out of bed.” With Clocky, the Planner sets the number of snooze minutes the Doer will be permitted in the morning. When that number runs out, the clock jumps off the nightstand and dashes around the room making annoying sounds. The only way to turn the damn thing off is to get out of bed and find it. By that time, even a groggy Doer is awake.