Habit
Generally, habits are conceptualized as the learning of sequences of acts that have become
automatic responses to specific situations, which may be functional in order to achieve a
given result, or to obtain certain goals or end states (e.g.
James, 1890,
Triandis, 1977,
Watson, 1914).
Habits thus comprise a goal directed type of automaticity; they are instigated by a
specific goal directed state of mind on the presence of triggering stimulus cues, for instance
taking the car to travel to the supermarket. Once evoked, the behavior will run to completion
without the need for attentional control of the process. Habit strenght is proposed to increase
as a result of repetitions of positive reinforcements.
See also:
Automaticity
Literature:
Aarts (1996),
James (1890),
Triandis (1977),
Watson (1914)
