Commitment device

[1] In other words, a commitment device is a way to give oneself a reward or punishment to make what might otherwise become an empty promise stronger and believable.

[4] A common example comes from mythology: Odysseus' plan to survive hearing the sirens' song without jumping overboard.

Economist Jodi Beggs writes "Commitment devices are a way to overcome the discrepancy between an individual's short-term and long-term preferences; in other words, they are a way for self-aware people to modify their incentives or set of possible choices in order to overcome impatience or other irrational behavior.

Dubner and Levitt give the example of Han Xin, a general in Ancient China, who positioned his soldiers with their backs to a river, making it impossible for them to flee, thereby leaving them no choice but to attack the enemy head-on.

[8] In addition, some game theorists have argued that human emotions and sense of honor are forms of commitment device.

[9] Other examples include announcing commitments publicly and mutually assured destruction,[10] as well as software programs that block internet access for a predetermined period of time.

Chinese military general Han Xin purportedly created a commitment device for his soldiers: he placed them with their backs to a river to make sure they would fight.
Odysseus lashed to the mast by his first mate. Depicted by the Siren Painter .
A soldier receives a Medal of Honor. Game theorists suggest that human cultural constructs like honor might function as commitment devices.