Habit and Identity: Behavioral, Cognitive, Affective, and Motivational Facets of an Integrated Self.

Bas Verplanken,Jie Sui

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01504

Abstract

Two studies investigated associations between habits and identity, in particular what people consider as their “true self.” Habit-identity associations were assessed by within-participant correlations between self-reported habit and associated true self ratings of 80 behaviors. The behaviors were instantiations of 10 basic values. In Study 1, significant correlations were observed between individual differences in the strength of habit-identity associations, measures of cognitive self-integration (prioritizing self-relevant information), self-esteem, and an orientation toward an ideal self. Study 2 further tested the assumption that habits are associated with identity if these relate to important goals or values. An experimental manipulation of value affirmation demonstrated that, compared to a control condition, habit-identity associations were stronger if participants explicitly generated the habit and true self ratings while indicating which values the behaviors would serve. Taken together, the results suggest that habits may serve to define who we are, in particular when these are considered in the context of self-related goals or central values. When habits relate to feelings of identity this comes with stronger cognitive self-integration, higher self-esteem, and a striving toward an ideal self. Linking habits to identity may sustain newly formed behaviors and may thus lead to more effective behavior change interventions.

Highlights

What determines our identity? A potential source of identity, which has received little attention in the literature on the self and the self-concept, is the array of our habits
The within-participant habit-identity correlations ranged from −0.19 to 0.89, suggesting substantial individual differences in habit-identity associations
The results suggest that the degree to which individuals associated habits with self-identity correlated statistically significantly with both self-bias measures as well as with self-esteem and a promotion self-regulatory orientation

Summary

Introduction

A potential source of identity, which has received little attention in the literature on the self and the self-concept, is the array of our habits. One is complexity; some habits involve simple acts, such as nail biting or checking the time, while others are part of more complex behaviors or. Habit and Identity routines, such as donating to charity or exercising. Habits vary in terms of involvement of other people. Habits vary in the extent to which they are important to us. We may not even be aware of the many unimportant habits, such as where you sit at the table or the way you tie your shoes. An unanswered question is whether or when habits contribute to what we consider as our identity, and if this is the case, how these sources of identity are embedded in other self-related constructs and processes, such as beliefs about ourselves, self-esteem, and self-regulation

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion