What is 'Commitment device' in Sociology?

This refers to any choice made by individuals in the present in order to prevent themselves from making impulsive mistakes in the future. It is believed that commitment devices can force people to stick to their original hard decisions without wavering from such decisions under distress in the future. An individual wishing to lose weight, for instance, may choose to buy a year-long membership at the gym instead of a weekly or monthly membership as a way to force himself to go to the gym regularly. Making one’s commitments or goals public to a large group of people is another common example of an effective commitment device that can help people achieve their goals.

Source: The Hindu, 22/02/2019