Glossary
Reward Substitution
What is reward substitution?
Reward substitution means adding an immediate benefit to an action you are doing for a distant goal. The goal stays the same; the added benefit gives you a reason to act today.
Example of reward substitution
You study for a qualification whose payoff is months away and plan a small enjoyable break after a study session. The break adds an immediate reason to complete the session; it does not replace the qualification as the long-term goal.
Reward substitution changes the immediate benefit attached to an action. Replacing the action itself with a different behavior is a separate idea.
What the research suggests
Woolley and Fishbach found that immediate rewards, including enjoyment, were more closely associated with persistence in activities such as studying and exercising than delayed rewards were.
Why it matters
What an activity feels like now matters, even when its biggest payoff is months away. Enjoying the activity and receiving a payment for doing it are different arrangements, however. If you add a separate reward, check what happens when it ends.