Define Habits in Psychology: A Coherent Understanding

In everyday conversations, habits are often referred to as frequent, persistent, or customary behaviors. However, within the realm of health psychology, habits are defined more specifically as a phenomenon where behavior is prompted automatically by situational cues due to learned cue-behavior associations (Wood & Neal, 2009). This automatic prompting plays a fundamental role in generating behavior, as noted by James (1891), Triandis (1977), and Watson (1913).

A coherent definition of 'habit' is essential for advancing habit theory and application. Most research on habits relies on correlational studies using self-report measures, which may not capture the complexity of habit-generated impulses. These impulses can compete or combine with those arising from other sources, including conscious decision-making, to influence responses.

A proposed definition views habit as a process where a stimulus generates an impulse to act as a result of a learned stimulus-response association. This understanding is essential for developing more effective methods for studying habits.

Previous definitions of 'habit' have varied implicitly and lack coherent links to underlying theories. A scoping review of 136 empirical studies and 8 literature reviews reveals the need for a unified definition and improved methods for measuring habits.

This paper explores the concept of habit in the context of health-related behavior, aiming to make it more useful for prediction and explanation. The term 'habit' is widely used in this context, but its meaning remains unclear. By adopting a coherent definition and exploring new methods for studying habits, we can accelerate progress in habit theory and application.

References:

James, W. (1891). The principles of psychology.

Triandis, H. C. (1977). Interpersonal behavior.

Watson, J. B. (1913). Psychology as the behaviorist views it.

Wood, W., & Neal, D. T. (2009). The role of habits in decision-making.

Define habits in psychology