This is an open secret. Casino slot machines are based on this principle, and certainly, Satanic bosses know how to make the most of this human weakness. Even when we check over and over again if someone has reacted to the image we gave to Instagram, we are triggered by the tremendous gravity of an inconsistent positive reinforcement. Similarly, this is why parents trying to wean their child from undesirable behavior should not be broken. Every time they break, they actually provide their child with a positive reward for his undesirable behavior, and precisely because this reward is not expected, they further strengthen the behavior they hoped to get rid of. In other words, even if the guy in our case is not the Marquis de Sade, he must know in his heart that his inconsistent behavior towards the girl increases her dependence on him.

Skinner's advice is clear: avoid SMS at 2 AM! Not because of the pain that will befall you if you do not get an answer, but on the contrary: The worst thing that can happen to you is that you will receive a semi-encouraging SMS in response. Any piece of metaphorical food like this will only push you to press the pedal to death. Only if you stop looking for positive reinforcement will you help yourself out of a painful relationship.