Lesson 1: The Psychology of Inner Responsibility and CommitmentLearning Objectives By the end of this lesson, students should be able to: Explain the concept of inner responsibility and its role in lo

Lesson 1: The Psychology of Inner Responsibility and CommitmentLearning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain the concept of inner responsibility and its role in long-term behavioral change.
2. Describe the Freedman experiment and its implications for behavior modification.
3. Analyze the role of external rewards and threats in shaping personal commitment.
4. Apply psychological insights from the reading to real-world situations, particularly in parenting and education.

Lesson Content1. The Concept of Inner Responsibility

• People take ownership of their actions when they believe they have freely chosen them.
• External pressures (e.g., strong threats or large rewards) can undermine a sense of personal responsibility.
• Inner responsibility leads to lasting behavioral changes, whereas forced compliance does not.

2. The Freedman Experiment: The Forbidden Toy Study

• Study Setup: Boys aged 7–9 were told not to play with a robot toy.
  • Group 1: Given a severe threat (“I will be very angry and do something about it”).
  • Group 2: Given a mild statement (“It is wrong to play with the robot”).
• Findings:
  • Short-term: Both groups obeyed while being observed.
  • Long-term: The mild warning group internalized the belief that playing with the toy was wrong, while the severe threat group ignored the rule once the authority figure was absent.
• Implications:
  • Harsh punishment creates temporary compliance rather than long-term belief.
  • Encouraging inner responsibility leads to self-regulation.

3. Applications to Parenting and Teaching

• Parents should avoid heavy bribes or threats if they want children to adopt values sincerely.
• Mild, but meaningful reasoning encourages self-regulation (e.g., “Lying is wrong” vs. “Lying is wrong, and I’ll be disappointed”).
• Schools can encourage responsibility in students by fostering internal motivation rather than external punishments or rewards.

Assessment Activities1. Multiple-Choice Questions (Knowledge & Comprehension)

What was the key finding of the Freedman experiment?

• A) A strong threat led to long-term obedience.
• B) Mild reasoning led children to avoid the toy even weeks later.
• C) The children ignored all instructions.
• D) Large rewards increased commitment.

Why does a strong external threat fail to create long-term behavior change?

• A) People associate their behavior with the external pressure rather than their own beliefs.
• B) People always prefer to rebel.
• C) It makes the forbidden action more appealing.
• D) It immediately changes long-term beliefs.

Which of the following is not a reason why inner responsibility leads to stronger commitment?

• A) It allows people to believe they acted out of personal conviction.
• B) It encourages people to take ownership of their choices.
• C) It removes the need for external reinforcement.
• D) It ensures that people always follow rules without question.

What is a key takeaway for parents from the Freedman study?

• A) Harsh punishment is the best way to ensure obedience.
• B) Giving children too much freedom leads to disobedience.
• C) Mild reasoning helps children develop long-term self-control.
• D) Large material rewards are essential to reinforcing good behavior.

Why do large rewards undermine inner responsibility?

• A) They make people feel manipulated rather than personally invested.
• B) They increase compliance long-term.
• C) They are always ineffective.
• D) They reinforce the behavior permanently.

2. Short-Answer Questions (Application & Analysis)

Why does a large material reward reduce inner responsibility for an action? 

How can teachers use Freedman’s findings to encourage good behavior in students? 

Supplementary Materials

Further Readings:

• Freedman, J. L. (1965). Long-Term Behavior Change and Self-Persuasion: The Power of Internal Commitment. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Springer.

Recommended Video:

• "How to Motivate Students Without Rewards or Punishments" – YouTube VideoLinks to an external site. (Ensure accessibility with captions)

The Power of Commitment and ConsistencyLesson 2: The Low-Ball Technique and the Power of CommitmentLearning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define the low-ball technique and explain how it manipulates commitment.
2. Describe how the psychological need for consistency leads people to honor commitments even when circumstances change.
3. Analyze real-world applications of the low-ball strategy in sales, relationships, and social influence.
4. Identify ways to recognize and resist low-ball tactics in daily life.

Lesson Content1. The Low-Ball Technique: A Deceptive Strategy

• The low-ball technique is a compliance strategy where an attractive offer is presented initially, but after commitment, the terms change to be less favorable.
• Key Idea: Once people commit, they are likely to stay consistent with their choice even when conditions worsen.
• Example: A car dealership offers a customer a great deal on a car, but after they decide to buy, the price increases due to a "calculation error." Many buyers still go through with the purchase to remain consistent with their earlier decision.

2. Psychological Mechanisms Behind Low-Balling

• Commitment Creates Justification: Once people commit, they start to justify their decision, finding new reasons why it was a good choice.
• Public and Active Commitments Are Stronger:
  • Signing forms, filling out applications, or making verbal agreements strengthen the commitment.
  • The more effort people put into a decision, the harder it is for them to back out.

3. Real-World Applications of the Low-Ball Tactic

• Sales & Marketing: Businesses use low-balling to increase sales.
  • Example: A gym offers a "limited-time" low membership rate, but hidden fees are revealed after signup.
• Relationships: People justify staying in relationships by finding new reasons to support their initial commitment.
  • Example: A person promises to change bad habits, but after commitment, they revert to their old ways. The partner stays because they’ve emotionally invested in the decision.
• Civic Engagement & Social Change:
  • Organizations encourage small commitments (e.g., signing a petition), leading to bigger commitments (e.g., volunteering time or donating money).

4. How to Resist the Low-B