Embracing Less: Using a Subtractive Problem Solving Approach in Creating Behavioural Change

Today I wanted to discuss a nifty piece of research that I came across some time ago and how it applies to behaviour.

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Penelope Webb 0:05

Welcome to The Exceptional Humans Podcast, where we discuss questions related to language, identity, education, and behavior. I'm your host, Penelope and I have a background in education, linguistics, and behavioral science. Today I wanted to discuss a nifty piece of research that I came across some time ago and how it applies to behaviour. In this research published in the Journal Nature, a University of Virginia team, researched what would happen when participants were given practical problem solving tasks to complete. These tasks included solving eight puzzles and problems that could be solved by adding or removing items. For example, one puzzle required participants to either shade in or erase squares on a grid to make a pattern symmetrical. In another task, participants were to add or subtract items from a travel itinerary to optimize a holiday. The interesting thing that this experiment found was that regardless of the puzzle or problem to be solved, the majority of the time, the participants chose an additive problem solving method instead of one based on subtraction. There may be a couple of reasons why humans tend to default to an additive problem solving method overlooking the possibilities of subtractive solutions. The first reason may be that additive ideas tend to come to mind more easily and quickly than subtractive ideas, which may require more thought. Therefore, humans may accept an additive solution without even considering a subtractive solution at all as they come to mind more quickly during the problem solving process. This may be self-reinforcing as rapid solutions are often rewarded within our institutions and organizations. Additionally, modern consumer behavior also reinforces the idea that we can solve our problems through purchasing items. This research is particularly interesting when we consider it in relation to changing behavior. Often when we wish to change a behavior, we look at what we can do to create behavioral momentum and therefore behavior change. And the important word in that sentence is do. Very rarely do we consider what we can stop doing in order to create behavioral change. The few times that we do consider stopping doing an action are usually instances where stopping that action is either inappropriate, impossible or inefficient. Generally examples of these concern things such as food intake, usually dieting, or stopping the consumption of something with addictive properties, this could range from caffeine to cigarettes to vaping to the use of recreational substances. However, a subtractive problem solving approach can be incredibly successful when applied to other behavioral concerns that we may be experiencing in our day-to-day lives. Doing less, having less, adding less can be incredibly effective in regulating our sensory and nervous system, reducing adversive stimuli and allowing us to contact reinforcement. I will give you an example I experienced in supporting a family with two neurodivergent children requiring behavior support. There was a plethora of concerns around behavioral triggers, behaviors of concern and incidents occurring from the moment the family woke up. Mum was extremely engaged in providing support for the kids, however, was experiencing quite considerable career burnout resulting in reduced parental capacity and considerable frustration around her ability to complete the activities of daily living that she needed to engage in because of barriers to her children's engagement in their own activities of daily living, such as getting out of bed and eating breakfast. This resulted in a situation where every morning the day began with behaviors of concern. Mom asked me what they could do. What did they need to add? What could they try? And having worked with this family for a while and having seen just how much was already in place, it actually became fairly evident that there was a desperate need to do less, not more. What we actually ended up trialing was a subtractive approach. We switched two components of the morning routine. Previously, mom had done everything she had to do to get the children out of bed and having breakfast before she went and exercised. My suggestion was that we trialed getting her exercising, then following up with the children about breakfast. Mom would place preferred breakfast items ready for the children on the kitchen bench. Inform the children that breakfast was available for them and that she was going to go and complete her exercises. She was exercising within the home and her exercise regime ranged from 20 minutes to an hour in length, depending on the type of activity she was engaged in. Clear expectations were established that if the children were not up and eating breakfast or had not finished eating breakfast, by the time mom finished exercising, she would be supporting them in those activities as well as taking any medications that they needed to take. This subtractive problem solving approach was very effective in reducing conflict in the household first thing in the morning, as well as reducing the incidents of behaviors of concern. The subtractive problem solving approach also explains why we tend to experience positive mental health outcomes when we do less, particularly when we do things such as go on holidays. On holidays, we do not experience the same pressure and stresses that we do from our day-to-day life, engaging in school, work and other commitments. A subtractive problem solving approach reduces the mental load, reducing stress and being a protective factor in the longer term. I'd be very curious to know if you have ever tried a subtractive problem solving approach in creating behaviors change for yourself or others that you care for. And if you have had a positive experience with this approach. The Exceptional Humans Podcast is written and recorded on Kabi Kabi and Jinibara lands. We would like to pay our respects to their elders past, present, and emerging, and pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening today.