Amazon has a reputation for offering just about everything you could ever want—from gadgets and apparel to books and kitchen essentials—all from the comfort of your own home. Now, they’ve taken a unique approach to help you curb those impulsive shopping habits with a gadget that delivers a slight jolt every time you think about indulging in a behavior you want to eliminate.
Introducing the Pavlok
The Pavlok is a bracelet that retails for approximately $200 on Amazon. The concept is quite unconventional: whenever you feel tempted to engage in a habit you wish to break, you give yourself a little shock. Yes, you read that right! This raises a question: if you can muster the willpower to shock yourself before splurging on yet another unnecessary item, couldn’t you just skip the bad habit altogether? Perhaps the allure of wearing a mini shock collar is simply more appealing.
The premise is straightforward. The makers of Pavlok contend that by associating the unpleasant sensation of the zap with your cravings, you’ll gradually desire those habits less and less. After all, who really wants to inflict discomfort on themselves multiple times a day? Additionally, spending $200 on a device designed to prevent overspending seems a bit counterintuitive, but then again, what do I know? It’s worth noting that this method is similar to techniques used in dog training.
How It Works
According to the product description, “Pavlok communicates with your brain’s primal instincts by introducing an unpleasant element (a harmless electric zap on your wrist) to the habits you wish to change. This technique conditions your mind to link an ‘unpleasant’ feeling with your bad habits, ultimately leading to their cessation.” The device also comes with a companion app, which allows you to customize your zap settings and access habit-breaking courses.
The company claims that their product is backed by decades of research, stating it utilizes “zaptic feedback” based on 80 years of aversion therapy studies. While various wearables track your actions, only the Pavlok 2 is designed to actively assist in altering your behavior.
Considerations
That said, I personally cannot endorse using electric shocks as a means to modify eating habits, as some reviewers have reportedly done. That’s just not a healthy approach. However, for issues like compulsive shopping, nail biting, or oversleeping, this might be a viable option—if you’re truly desperate for change.
Ultimately, it’s your choice. If you’re grappling with a habit you’re eager to break and traditional methods haven’t worked, this could be worth a try. Meanwhile, I’ll just be here, enjoying my excessive book purchases, late mornings, and opting for less painful solutions.
For more engaging discussions and insights, check out this post on our other blog.
In summary, Amazon’s Pavlok bracelet is a unique gadget aimed at helping users break bad habits through self-administered shocks. While it may seem extreme, its approach is rooted in behavioral conditioning principles and could be beneficial for those looking for an alternative to traditional habit-breaking methods.