The Psychology Of Bad Habits

Habits are comprised of cue, routine and reward. The cue triggers a routine, and the routine generates a reward.

The habit loop is powerful andhardwired into our psyches, which explains why it is so hard to shake. We actually never break bad habits, but replace them with more positive alternatives.

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Want to Break a Bad Habit? Science Says Do These 4 Things

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Want to Break a Bad Habit? Science Says Do These 4 Things

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  • The Habit Loop

    The cue triggers a craving, which motivates a response, which provides a reward, which satisfies the craving and, ultimately, becomes associated with the cue. Together, these four steps form a neurological feedback loop—cue, craving, response, reward; cue, craving, response, reward—that ultimately allows you to create automatic habits.

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  • The 3 Step Loop of Habit Formation:

    First, there is a cue, a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and which habit to use. Then there is the routine , which can be physical or mental or emotional. Finally, there is a reward, which helps your brain figure out if this particular loop is worth remembering for the future.

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  • Know Your Cues

    Habits have three main parts: a cue, a routine and a reward. Cues are the context where you tend to engage in the behavior and knowing your triggers can help you avoid them. Capitalizing on major life changes can also help break an unhealthy habit. Shifts in lifestyle can actually be the ideal opportunity for eliminating a vice as you don’t have those same cues.

    5 Science-Approved Ways to Break a Bad Habit

  • How to Avoid Bad Habits

    Identifying the cue and the reward you’re craving is key to eliminating bad habits. More often than not, you can quit bad habits by adding a little “friction”.With this information, you can replace any bad habit with a healthier one that offers the same reward.

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