Book Titles

Observers trying to decide what people are like look closely at their actions. People also use this evidence – their own behavior – to decide what they are like…

…something special happens when people put their commitments on paper: they live up to what they write down.

…written down and publicly made commitments can be used not only to influence others in desirable ways but to influence ourselves similarly.

Whenever one takes a stand visible to others, there arises a drive to maintain that stand in order to look like a consistent person.

The evidence is clear: the more effort that goes into a commitment, the greater its ability to influence the attitudes and actions of the person who made it.

It appears the commitments most effective in changing self-image and future behavior are those that are active, public, and effortful.

…we accept inner responsibility for a behavior when we think we have chosen to perform it in the absence of strong outside pressure.

…a strong threat… may motivate immediate compliance, but it is unlikely to produce long-term commitment.

Mere reminders of past commitments can spur individuals to act in accord with those earlier positions, stands, or actions.

Reminders of existing commitments possess yet another bonus. They not only restore the commitment but also appear to strengthen it by augmenting one’s related self-image.