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'''Habits''' are routines of [[behavior]] that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsciously, without directly thinking consciously about them.[1][2][3] Habitual behavior sometimes goes unnoticed in [[persons]] exhibiting them, because it is often unnecessary to engage in self-[[analysis]] when undertaking in routine tasks. Habituation is an extremely simple form of [[learning]], in which an [[organism]], after a period of exposure to a stimulus, stops responding to that stimulus in varied [[manner]]s. Habits are sometimes compulsory.[3][4]
==Formation==
Habit formation is the [[process]] by which a behaviour becomes habitual. As behaviours are repeated in a consistent [[context]], there is an incremental increase in the link between the context and the [[action]]. This increases the [[automatic]]ity of the behaviour in that context.[5] Features of an automatic behaviour are all or some of: efficiency, lack of awareness, unintentionality, uncontrollability.[6]
Habit formation is modelled as an increase in automaticity with number of repetitions up to an asymptote.[7][8][9]
Author John Tesh advises that it takes about 21 days to establish or break a habit.[10]
==Habits and goals==
The habit–goal interface is constrained by the particular [[manner]] in which habits are learned and represented in [[memory]]. Specifically, the associative learning underlying habits is characterized by the slow, incremental accrual of [[information]] over time in procedural memory[11] Habits can either benefit or hurt the goals a person set for themselves.
Goals guide habits most fundamentally by providing the initial outcome-oriented impetus for response repetition. In this sense, habits often are a vestige of past goal pursuit.[11]
==Bad habits==
A bad habit is a [[negative]] behaviour [[pattern]]. Common examples include: procrastination, fidgeting, overspending, nail-biting.[12]
==Will and intention==
A key factor in distinguishing a bad habit from an [[addiction]] or mental disease is the element of willpower. If a person still seems to have control over the behaviour then it is just a habit.[13] [[Good]] [[intention]]s are able to override the negative effect of bad habits but their effect seems to be independent and additive — the bad habits remain but are subdued rather than cancelled.[14]
==Eliminating bad habits==
According to author Bill Borcherdt, the best time to correct a bad habit is immediately, before it becomes established. So, bad habits are best prevented from developing in childhood.[15]
There are many [[techniques]] for removing bad habits once they have become established. One example is withdrawal of reinforcers - identifying and removing the factors which trigger the habit and encourage its [[persistence]].[16] The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_ganglia basal ganglia] appears to remember the [[context]] that triggers a habit, meaning they can be revived if triggers reappear. [17]
==References==
# Butler, Gillian; Hope, Tony. Managing Your Mind: The mental fitness guide. Oxford Paperbacks, 1995
# Merriam Webster Dictionary. Definition of Habit. Retrieved on August 29, 2008.
# Merriam Webster dictionary. Definition of Habituation. Retrieved on August 29, 2008
# "Habituation." Animalbehavioronline.com. Retrieved on August 29, 2008.
# Wood W, Neal DT (2007). "A new look at habits and the habit-goal interface." Psychological Review, 114: 843–863
# Bargh JA (1994). "The four horsemen of automaticity: Awareness, intention, efficiency, and control in social cognition." In Wyer RS, Srull TK (ed.s), Handbook of social cognition: Vol. 1 Basic processes, pp. 1–40. Hove: Lawrence Erlbaun Associates Publishers
# Hull CL (1943). Principles of behavior: An introduction to behavior theory. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts
# Hull CL (1951). Essentials of behavior. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press
# Lally P, van Jaarsveld CHM, Potts H, Wardle J (2009). "How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world." European Journal of Social Psychology, Early View. DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.674
# John Tesh (2008), Intelligence for Your Life, p. 39
# American Psychological Association. A New Look at Habits and the Habit–Goal Interface Retrieved on December 22, 2008
# Suzanne LeVert, Gary R. McClain (2001). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Breaking Bad Habits. Alpha Books. ISBN 0028639863.
# Mariana Valverde (1998). "Disease or Habit? Alcoholism and the Exercise of Freedom". Diseases of the Will: Alcohol and the Dilemmas of Freedom. ISBN 0521644690.
# Bas Verplanken, Suzanne Faes (21 Jun 1999), "Good intentions, bad habits, and effects of forming implementation intentions on healthy eating", European Journal of Social Psychology 29 (5-6): 591-604
# Bill Borcherdt (1996). Making Families Work and What to Do When They Don't. Haworth Press. pp. 172. ISBN 0789000733.
# Herbert Fensterheim, Jean Baer (1975). Don't Say Yes When You Want to Say No. Dell. ISBN 0440154138.
# http://news.cnet.com/MIT-explains-why-bad-habits-are-hard-to-break/2100-11395_3-5902850.html
==External links==
James Rowland Angell and Addison W. Moore. "[http://www.brocku.ca/MeadProject/Angell/Angell_Moore_1896.html Studies from the Psychological Laboratory of the University of Chicago: 1. Reaction-Time: A Study in Attention and Habit]." Psychological Review 3, (1896): 245-258.)
[[Category: Psychology]]
'''Habits''' are routines of [[behavior]] that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsciously, without directly thinking consciously about them.[1][2][3] Habitual behavior sometimes goes unnoticed in [[persons]] exhibiting them, because it is often unnecessary to engage in self-[[analysis]] when undertaking in routine tasks. Habituation is an extremely simple form of [[learning]], in which an [[organism]], after a period of exposure to a stimulus, stops responding to that stimulus in varied [[manner]]s. Habits are sometimes compulsory.[3][4]
==Formation==
Habit formation is the [[process]] by which a behaviour becomes habitual. As behaviours are repeated in a consistent [[context]], there is an incremental increase in the link between the context and the [[action]]. This increases the [[automatic]]ity of the behaviour in that context.[5] Features of an automatic behaviour are all or some of: efficiency, lack of awareness, unintentionality, uncontrollability.[6]
Habit formation is modelled as an increase in automaticity with number of repetitions up to an asymptote.[7][8][9]
Author John Tesh advises that it takes about 21 days to establish or break a habit.[10]
==Habits and goals==
The habit–goal interface is constrained by the particular [[manner]] in which habits are learned and represented in [[memory]]. Specifically, the associative learning underlying habits is characterized by the slow, incremental accrual of [[information]] over time in procedural memory[11] Habits can either benefit or hurt the goals a person set for themselves.
Goals guide habits most fundamentally by providing the initial outcome-oriented impetus for response repetition. In this sense, habits often are a vestige of past goal pursuit.[11]
==Bad habits==
A bad habit is a [[negative]] behaviour [[pattern]]. Common examples include: procrastination, fidgeting, overspending, nail-biting.[12]
==Will and intention==
A key factor in distinguishing a bad habit from an [[addiction]] or mental disease is the element of willpower. If a person still seems to have control over the behaviour then it is just a habit.[13] [[Good]] [[intention]]s are able to override the negative effect of bad habits but their effect seems to be independent and additive — the bad habits remain but are subdued rather than cancelled.[14]
==Eliminating bad habits==
According to author Bill Borcherdt, the best time to correct a bad habit is immediately, before it becomes established. So, bad habits are best prevented from developing in childhood.[15]
There are many [[techniques]] for removing bad habits once they have become established. One example is withdrawal of reinforcers - identifying and removing the factors which trigger the habit and encourage its [[persistence]].[16] The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_ganglia basal ganglia] appears to remember the [[context]] that triggers a habit, meaning they can be revived if triggers reappear. [17]
==References==
# Butler, Gillian; Hope, Tony. Managing Your Mind: The mental fitness guide. Oxford Paperbacks, 1995
# Merriam Webster Dictionary. Definition of Habit. Retrieved on August 29, 2008.
# Merriam Webster dictionary. Definition of Habituation. Retrieved on August 29, 2008
# "Habituation." Animalbehavioronline.com. Retrieved on August 29, 2008.
# Wood W, Neal DT (2007). "A new look at habits and the habit-goal interface." Psychological Review, 114: 843–863
# Bargh JA (1994). "The four horsemen of automaticity: Awareness, intention, efficiency, and control in social cognition." In Wyer RS, Srull TK (ed.s), Handbook of social cognition: Vol. 1 Basic processes, pp. 1–40. Hove: Lawrence Erlbaun Associates Publishers
# Hull CL (1943). Principles of behavior: An introduction to behavior theory. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts
# Hull CL (1951). Essentials of behavior. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press
# Lally P, van Jaarsveld CHM, Potts H, Wardle J (2009). "How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world." European Journal of Social Psychology, Early View. DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.674
# John Tesh (2008), Intelligence for Your Life, p. 39
# American Psychological Association. A New Look at Habits and the Habit–Goal Interface Retrieved on December 22, 2008
# Suzanne LeVert, Gary R. McClain (2001). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Breaking Bad Habits. Alpha Books. ISBN 0028639863.
# Mariana Valverde (1998). "Disease or Habit? Alcoholism and the Exercise of Freedom". Diseases of the Will: Alcohol and the Dilemmas of Freedom. ISBN 0521644690.
# Bas Verplanken, Suzanne Faes (21 Jun 1999), "Good intentions, bad habits, and effects of forming implementation intentions on healthy eating", European Journal of Social Psychology 29 (5-6): 591-604
# Bill Borcherdt (1996). Making Families Work and What to Do When They Don't. Haworth Press. pp. 172. ISBN 0789000733.
# Herbert Fensterheim, Jean Baer (1975). Don't Say Yes When You Want to Say No. Dell. ISBN 0440154138.
# http://news.cnet.com/MIT-explains-why-bad-habits-are-hard-to-break/2100-11395_3-5902850.html
==External links==
James Rowland Angell and Addison W. Moore. "[http://www.brocku.ca/MeadProject/Angell/Angell_Moore_1896.html Studies from the Psychological Laboratory of the University of Chicago: 1. Reaction-Time: A Study in Attention and Habit]." Psychological Review 3, (1896): 245-258.)
[[Category: Psychology]]