There are a variety of ways to incentivize a good habit and the Pavlok Habit Forming Device focuses on a more unpleasant option. Working on the classical conditioning theory that involves a conditioned stimulus paired with an unconditioned stimulus, it encourages people to stay on track by punishing bad patterns.
Designed by Maneesh Sethi and Behavioral Technologies, a startup based in Boston, Massachusetts, Pavlok Habit Forming Device delivers a shock of electricity when the wearer doesn't meet his or her goal. Relying on negative reinforcement rather than positive, Sethi reveals, "It’s not about the shock as much as it is about training your brain to do the things you say you’re going to do." Currently no release date is set for the fitness tracker.
Pain-Inflicting Fitness Trackers
The Pavlok Habit Forming Device Delivers a Shock of Electricity
Trend Themes
1. Negative Reinforcement - Using Pavlok's shock of electricity as a punishment for not meeting goals is an example of negative reinforcement, which can be a disruptive innovation opportunity in behavior-modifying devices.
2. Classical Conditioning - The Pavlok Habit Forming Device's use of classical conditioning to incentivize good habits can lead to disruptive innovation opportunities in behavior modification technologies.
3. Habit Formation - The focus on habit formation through the use of electric shocks as a deterrent presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of self-improvement devices.
Industry Implications
1. Wearable Technology - The Pavlok Habit Forming Device's shock-based approach to habit formation provides disruptive innovation opportunities in the wearable technology industry.
2. Behavior Modification - The use of punishment as a means to modify behavior in the Pavlok Habit Forming Device highlights disruptive innovation opportunities in the behavior modification industry.
3. Self-improvement - The Pavlok Habit Forming Device's emphasis on training the brain and forming positive habits can lead to disruptive innovation opportunities in the self-improvement industry.