Break Habits Research Articles

Making and breaking habits: Revisiting the definitions and behavioral factors that influence habits in animals.

Habits have garnered significant interest in studies of associative learning and maladaptive behavior. However, habit research has faced scrutiny and challenges related to the definitions and methods. Differences in the conceptualizations of habits between animal and human studies create difficulties for translational research. Here, we review the definitions and commonly used methods for studying habits in animals and humans and discuss potential alternative ways to assess habits, such as automaticity. To better understand habits, we then focus on the behavioral factors that have been shown to make or break habits in animals, as well as potential mechanisms underlying the influence of these factors. We discuss the evidence that habitual and goal-directed systems learn in parallel and that they seem to interact in competitive and cooperative manners. Finally, we draw parallels between habitual responding and compulsive drug seeking in animals to delineate the similarities and differences in these behaviors.

Scientific and Yogic Aspects of Human Habits

This article investigates how human habits are formed from Yogic and scientific angles. It explains in a simple way how our routines become habits for our brains and minds. According to the essay, the strength of these routines determines whether someone develops good or negative habits. According to science, when we frequently do something, "neurological pathways" are formed in the brain. It is simpler to carry out the task using these paths. Therefore, your brain strengthens the habit if you do something and it makes you pleased. Conversely, if you do something reluctantly, the habit will likely form more slowly or not at all. The article also mentions elements like practicing, learning, concentrating, exercising, resting, and more that aid in the development of neural pathways. According to Yogic theory, our senses and minds are the source of all of our experiences. When we encounter something repeatedly, it creates powerful mental "Samskaras" in our minds that eventually become habits. These behaviors could be mental ideas or bodily acts. According to the text, habits can be created through deeds, words, or feelings. When our habits are solid, we act instinctively and occasionally without even realizing it. The article offers advice on how to create or break habits, including awareness, clear aims, repetition, mindfulness, and patience. It also suggests making a space that is encouraging and taking stock of your development.

Habit and Doubt in the Classroom: Everyday Media Literacy in a Norwegian Upper Secondary School

Abstract Even though several students are experienced producers of audiovisual texts in their everyday lives, there is no quick fix to transfer these media production skills to the formal school setting. This article is based on a classroom study from a science class in a Norwegian upper secondary school. Instead of what they have become accustomed to in the subject – making written or oral reports – they were asked to create video reports using smartphone applications they have learned to use in everyday life. The article argues that the students meet such a task with doubt and they do not necessarily draw upon their vernacular skills in the formal school setting were the tradition of the linguistic text is well rooted. The habit of producing verbal texts in school is challenging to break and video production is experienced as difficult and time consuming. However, this article argues that there is much to be gained if teaching supports students to ‘break habits’. While this opens for students’ doubts and hesitations, breaking habits also can inspire inquiry, creativity and new learning.

Impact of sleep status on lung adenocarcinoma risk: a prospective cohort study.

The association between sleep status and lung adenocarcinoma risk was analyzed using long-term follow-up data from 60,443 patients over the period 2016-2022 to provide a reference for exploring the association between sleep status and lung adenocarcinoma development. Based on long-term follow-up data, a total of 60,443 people were included. Sleep data collected for the study included insomnia symptoms, lunch break habits, and sleep duration. A sleep score (0-3) was constructed based on difficulty falling asleep, premature awakening and sleep duration. Proportional risk regression models were used to analyze the association between each sleep factor, sleep score and lung cancer risk. The study population was followed up for 9.9 ± 4.8 years and a total of 307 cases of lung adenocarcinoma were first recorded during the follow-up period. After controlling for potential confounders, the risk ratios (HR) for lung adenocarcinoma in those with difficulties going asleep or waking up too early were 1.12 (95% CI: 1.02-1.14) and 1.07 (95% CI: 1.01-1.11), respectively, compared to those without symptoms of insomnia. The HR for lung adenocarcinoma in those with less than 7 h of sleep [HR = 1.17 (95% CI: 1.05-1.21)] was compared to those with ≥ 7 h of sleep per day. Compared to those with a sleep score of 3 (highest quality sleep), those with a sleep score of 2, 1 and 0 corresponded to HR of 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01-1.12), 1.11 (95% CI: 1.09-1.18) and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.01-1.32) respectively. Patients who suffer from insomnia or have a short sleep schedule are at increased risk of developing lung cell cancer. Sleep has an important impact on health and improving sleep conditions can reduce the incidence of lung cancer.

How can smart mobility bridge the first/last mile gap? Empirical evidence on public attitudes from Australia

Under the umbrella concept of smart mobility, new transport innovations such as peer-to-peer transport, shared autonomous vehicles, and mobility-as-a-service have been identified for their potential to improve accessibility and bridge the first/last-mile gap between origin, destination, and good quality public transport. Any future mobility plan, nevertheless, will need to appeal to a population reluctant to break habits. This study explores quantitative data collected from major Australian cities to provide a geographic context between attitudes towards smart mobility with a particular focus on eight attitudinal factors—i.e., technology, public transport, sharing, multimodality, peer-to-peer transport, smart phones and apps, environmental consciousness, and reducing private vehicle use. The quantitative analysis disclosed that regardless of location, overcoming private vehicle use, user aversion to multimodality, and reluctance to share rides with strangers' presence significant barriers to some smart mobility options. Furthermore, respondents in inner ring areas of cities have more positive views towards public transport, the environment, and smart phones, while the middle/outer ring residents on the contrary have more positive views towards private vehicles. The study findings offer policy insights and potential opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of smart mobility in urban areas.

Factors affecting Chinese people’s intention to adopt the individual dining style

Purpose In light of the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese authorities have called for the adoption of the individual dining style (IDS) as a preventive measure for the pandemic and a new norm for civilized code of conduct. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing the Chinese people’s intention to adopt the IDS. Design/methodology/approach The authors applied the capability, opportunity and motivation model of behavior (COM-B) and identified potential predictors influencing the intention to adopt the IDS through a review of the literature. Data were collected through an online survey, and structural equation modeling was applied to test the hypotheses. Findings The results indicated that the most influential predictors were subjective norm, social norm, perceived benefit and past behavior, while the other predictors (including breaking habits, communal dining culture, perceived behavioral control, perceived health risk and social risk) had insignificant effects on the intention to adopt IDS. Practical implications First, educational public health messages should communicate the benefits of IDS. Second, persuasive public communication should focus on how people are implementing the target behavior rather than drawing attention to a minority who are disregarding it. Moreover, given the highly significant effects of subjective norm, public health campaigns should emphasize that adoption of the desired behavior expresses care for significant others. Originality/value The findings advance understanding of an underexplored topic, namely, how deeply ingrained ways of dining may be transformed in the current context. Applying the COM-B, the authors tested multiple variables to explain the intention to adopt IDS. The results suggest that some social influences (subjective norm and social norm) and reflective cognitive processes (perceived benefit) had the greatest impacts on behavior intentions. Moreover, the results indicate that threat of COVID-19 may not prompt people to change their dining styles. However, the benefits of IDS to prevent the spread of infectious diseases could lead to its wider adoption.

Empirical models of the structure of personal qualities of leaders: a radicalist type of social action (results of applied research)

The article is devoted to the methodological and methodological foundations of the study of the personal qualities of managers and ordinary employees of organizations. In contrast to the author’s previous works devoted to the study of the personal qualities of leaders, including civil servants, in the works of Plato, Aristotle and M. Weber, where empirical models of the structure of the personal qualities of leaders of goal-rational, value-rational, affective and traditional types of social action were presented (according to M Weber), this publication presents the combined results of research conducted at different times in different organizations on empirical models of the structure of personal qualities of managers and ordinary workers of the “radicalist type of social action”, which expands the understanding of the conceptual approach about the four types of social action by M. Weber. And the empirical models themselves can be useful for solving applied problems in the field of organization management. The more the work of collecting empirical data continued, the more interesting the theoretical and practical question became. How common are people of the radicalist type of social action? In what types of social institutions, in what professions is the radicalist type represented most vividly? What in the structure of personal qualities distinguishes the radicalist behavior of representatives of peaceful professions (civil servants, doctors, teachers, etc.) from certain categories of professional military personnel? If radicalist behavior is a professionally important quality of workers, then how to measure the propensity of an individual to engage in radicalist behavior? The analysis showed that on this scale, conservatism–radicalism, the features are located at different, opposite “poles of the same coordinate axis”. Therefore, as in the study of traditional behavior, the following areas of sociological research of radicalist behavior are distinguished. Within the framework of the first direction, the main attention in the structure of personal qualities is paid to the traditional component, fidelity to “following the habit” (according to M. Weber); in the structure of this type of personality, conservative traits are dominant in comparison with those who are inclined to a radical, radical change and breakdown of established orders and traditions. Within the framework of the second direction, the main attention in the structure of personal qualities is paid to adherence to traditions, which is equally combined with a radicalist attitude, a willingness to innovate. Within the framework of the third direction, which is important for the tasks of our new study, in the structure of personality traits, radicalistic traits dominate over conservative ones; Distrust of authorities, a tendency to break habits, a willingness to innovate, and a radicalist attitude towards change are clearly manifested.

Empirical models of the structure of personal qualities of leaders: traditional type of social action M. Weber (results of applied research)

The article is devoted to the methodological foundations of the study of personal qualities of managers. In contrast to previous works devoted to the study of personal qualities of leaders, including public servants in the works of Plato, Aristotle, and M. Weber, which was shown to the empirical model of the structure of the personal qualities of leaders celebrationing, value-rational and affective types of social action (by M. Weber), this paper presents an empirical model of the structure of the personal qualities of the leaders of the traditional type of social action (by M. Weber), so the concept of Weber’s social action gets another approach to verification in practice. As well as the possibility of applying a conceptual approach to the study of traditional behavior to solve applied problems in the Keld of organization management. The following areas of sociological research of traditional behavior are distinguished. In the first part the focus in the structure of personal qualities focuses on conventional component, fidelity to “follow the habit” (by M. Weber), a conservative traits are dominant in nature, compared to those who are attuned to the radical, radical change and breaking the established order and traditions. In the second direction, the main focus in the structure of personal qualities is the following of traditions, which is equally combined with a radical attitude and a willingness to innovate. In the third direction, in the structure of personal qualities, radicalist traits dominate over conservative ones; distrust of authority, a tendency to break habits, a willingness to innovate, and a radical attitude to change are clearly manifested.

How Cities Can Apply Behavioral Science to Promote Public Transportation use

In this review, we present and critically evaluate evidence regarding how policymakers can apply behavioral science-based strategies to encourage the use of public transportation. After briefly introducing the theoretical background, we describe selected rigorously studied interventions informed by behavioral insights. We organize the interventions into three overarching groups: (a) communication-based approaches (information provision, goal setting and plan formation, and message framing), (b) bias-busting approaches (strategies that can counter negative perceptions of public transportation, break habits by timing interventions strategically, overcome anticipated dislike of social interactions on public transportation, and tap into emotional influences on decisionmaking), and (c) technology-based approaches (feedback and gamification). On the basis of the reviewed findings, we identify the interventions that seem most promising for increasing public transportation use.

Analysis of relationship between asthenopia and terminal screen exposure in college students during COVID-19 epidemic period.

Objective To understand the relationship between the visual fatigue of college students and the exposure of terminal screens during the novel coronavirus pneumonia (New Coronary Pneumonia) epidemic. Methods The cluster sampling method of the current situation survey was adopted. From March 1 to July 1, 2020, a questionnaire survey of 2671 college students in Hefei City, Anhui Province was conducted to analyze the eye discomfort, daily eye use and eye care of college students during the new coronary pneumonia epidemic. Situation and so on. Results Among the 2 671 college students, 1 860 cases were positive for asthenopia, with a total positive rate of 69.64%. Eye fatigue [5646% (1508/2671)], dry eyes [46.01% (1 229/2 671)], eye swelling [ The incidence of 38.26% (1022/2671)], eye itching and pain [28.15% (752/2 671)] ranked the top 4. Lunch break habits and the number of drinking glasses per day are common protective factors for eye fatigue, dry eyes, sore eyes, and itchy eyes;closing doors and windows during online classes and staying up late each week are common risks for eye fatigue, dry eyes, and sore eyes Factors;daytime terminal screen exposure time is a common risk factor for dry eyes, sore eyes, and itchy eyes. Conclusion During the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the incidence of visual fatigue among college students is relatively high. Terminal screen exposure is one of the risk factors for visual fatigue. Reducing the exposure time of college students to terminal screens is an effective measure to prevent visual fatigue. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] 目的了解新型冠状病毒肺炎(简称新冠肺炎)疫情期间大学生视疲劳与终端屏幕暴露的关 联。方法采用现况调查整群抽样方法,2020 年3月1日至7月1日通过问卷调查安徽省合肥市高校的2671 名大学生,分析新冠肺炎疫情期间大学生眼部不适､日常用眼及护眼情况等。结果 2 671 名大学生中视疲劳 阳性 1 860 例,总阳性率为69.64%,眼疲劳感[5646%(1508/2671)]､眼干涩[46.01%(1 229/2 671)]､眼酸 胀[38.26%(1022/2671)]、眼痒痛[28.15%(752/2 671)]发生率排前4位。午休习惯和每天饮水杯数是眼疲 劳感､眼干涩､眼酸胀､眼痒痛的共同保护因素;上网课时关闭门窗和每周熬夜次数是眼疲劳感､眼干涩､眼酸胀 的共同危险因素;白天终端屏幕暴露时间是眼干涩､眼酸胀､眼痒痛的共同危险因素。结论 新冠肺炎疫情期 间大学生视疲劳发生率较高,终端屏幕暴露是视疲劳的危险因素之一,降低大学生对终端屏幕暴露时间是预防 視疲劳的有效措施. (Chinese) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Modern Medicine & Health is the property of Journal of Modern Medicine & Health and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Self-control and health-related behaviour: The role of implicit self-control, trait self-control, and lay beliefs in self-control.

We tested unique contribution of trait self-control, implicit self-control, and lay beliefs in self-control beliefs to the prediction of health-related behaviours. We also tested whether relations between trait self-control and health-related behaviour, and between implicit self-control and health-related behaviours, were moderated by self-control beliefs. Cross-sectional, correlational. Students (N=176) completed self-report measures of trait self-control, lay beliefs that self-control is limited or non-limited, non-planning, participation in health-related behaviours (impulsive eating, impulsive drinking, exercise avoidance, watching diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity participation), and demographic variables. Participants also completed a measure of implicit self-control using an implicit association test. Analyses indicated significant negative relations between implicit self-control and impulsive drinking and alcohol consumption. We also found a positive relationship between implicit self-control and exercise behaviour, and a negative relationship between implicit self-control and impulsive eating, both of which fell marginally short of statistical significance. Trait self-control significantly predicted all behavioural measures and attenuated relations between implicit self-control and health-related behaviour. We found no relations between lay beliefs in self-control and health-related behaviour. Moderated path analyses revealed that lay beliefs in self-control moderated relations between trait self-control and impulsive drinking, implicit self-control and exercise avoidance, and implicit self-control and physical activity participation. Findings suggest that trait self-control was a consistent correlate of health-related behaviour, while the effect sizes of relationships between implicit self-control and health-related behaviours were small. Strength of relations between trait self-control and health-related behaviours may depend on whether or not individuals believe self-control is limited. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Self-control represents individuals capacity to override impulses, break habits, and avoid temptations. Trait self-control is consistently and positively related to uptake of health-promoting behaviours (e.g., physical activity, healthy eating). Trait self-control is consistently and negatively related to health-compromising behaviours (e.g., alcohol consumption, unhealthy snacking). What does this study add? Proposes that self-control can also be measured implicitly, beyond individuals' awareness. Examined effects of implicit measures of self-control and self-reported trait self-control on multiple health behaviours. Effects of implicit self-control on health behaviours were small and subsumed by trait self-control. Effects of lay beliefs in self-control moderated effects of implicit and trait self-control on some health behaviours.

Explaining Digital Piracy: A Meta-Analysis

Why do users engage in digital piracy? The theoretical explanations are particularistic and the empirical findings are fragmented and divergent. Managers and academics have thus had little guidance on how to explain and combat digital piracy. To help fill this gap, the present paper provides a meta-analysis that synthesizes past research and identifies the key drivers of users’ engagement in digital piracy. The findings identify new measures and revise existing strategies to confront the global threat of digital piracy. Effective anti-piracy measures focus on breaking habits, reducing users’ control, suppressing justifications, and changing attitudes. Breaking habits requires technical control strategies such as impeding access to pirate sites, and should be accompanied by legislative demands. Impairing the attractiveness of pirate websites while providing high quality content on legitimate channels weakens illegal users’ perceived control. Enhanced features and functionality of legal products and websites that are easy accessible strengthens legal users’ perceived control. While many existing anti-piracy campaigns foster positive appeals (e.g., supporting the industry), describing the risks and loss of control seem more promising. As for targeting, psychographics provide a better portrait of pirating users than demographics—they appreciate sharing, are innovative, less risk averse, less susceptible to influence, and of lower integrity. Finally, making more legal copies available to users is discouraged.

Do making habits or breaking habits influence weight loss and weight loss maintenance? A randomised controlled trial

Do making habits or breaking habits influence weight loss and weight loss maintenance? A randomised controlled trial

When Utilitarian Claims Backfire: Advertising Content and the Uptake of Insects as Food.

A key challenge for climate change mitigation on the consumer side is to break habits that excessively lead to carbon emission. One of the culturally most robust human routines is the heavy reliance of the Western societies on conventional meat sources such as beef, pork, and poultry, which were recently accused of causing particularly high climate costs. In this light, the UN (FAO) has suggested the increasing use of insects as an alternative source of animal protein intended for human diets. Yet, insects have not reached the mainstream of Western cuisine. Currently, a frequent promotion strategy of insects is to highlight the Utilitarian benefits associated with their consumption (e.g., with respect to the environment or one's health). The present research addresses the efficacy of such claims in a consumer research study involving 180 participants recruited from the general population in Germany. Arguing based on social-cognitive research in the area of moral and environmental psychology, we hypothesized and found that a focus on beneficial, but temporally distant motives (e.g., health)—counterintuitively—decreases consumption in comparison to immediate, hedonic advertisements (e.g., tasty). Furthermore, our study provides process evidence suggesting pretrial expectations induced by a particular claim mediate the relationship between claims and consumption. Thus, the present research not only refutes a state-of-the-art approach in the promotion of insects as food, but also provides an alternative approach and process evidence by integrating psychological factors.

Digital Behaviour Change Interventions to Break and Form Habits

Digital behaviour change interventions, particularly those using pervasive computing technology, hold great promise in supporting users to change their behaviour. However, most interventions fail to take habitual behaviour into account, limiting their potential impact. This failure is partly driven by a plethora of overlapping behaviour change theories and related strategies that do not consider the role of habits. We critically review the main theories and models used in the research to analyse their application to designing effective habitual behaviour change interventions. We highlight the potential for Dual Process Theory, modern habit theory, and Goal Setting Theory, which together model how users form and break habits, to drive effective digital interventions. We synthesise these theories into an explanatory framework, the Habit Alteration Model, and use it to outline the state of the art. We identify the opportunities and challenges of habit-focused interventions.

Habit-breaking methods employed by mothers of children with nonnutritive sucking habits resident in suburban Nigeria.

Parents are often concerned about their children's nonnutritive sucking (NNS) habits and may institute mechanisms to try to break them. The study identified various methods instituted by mothers resident in a suburban Nigeria to break NNS habits of children, reasons for wanting to break the habit, and the association between instituted methods and sociodemographic profile of the mothers. The data of 129 mothers of children aged 4 years to 12 years who had NNS habits at the time of conducting a household survey were analyzed. Tests of associations were conducted to determine the association between maternal age and level of education and methods employed to break child's NNS habits. Eighty-four mothers (65.1%) made efforts to break the habit. Habit persisting to older age was the main concern. The most common method employed for breaking habits was punishing the child (54.8%).Only 7 (20.0%) mothers who were concerned about NNS habit(s) sought professional advice. A greater though insignificant percentage of mothers in the 25-34 years age group (57.2%; P = 0.48) and those with secondary school level of education (56.0%; P = 0.12) made efforts to break their children's NNS habits. The majority of mothers were concerned about their children's NNS habits. However, very few concerned mothers sought professional advice. Efforts need to be made to improve the public awareness about the availability of professional services for managing NNS habits and potential impact of employing nonprofessional methods to break habits.

Making Cool Choices for sustainability: Testing the effectiveness of a game-based approach to promoting pro-environmental behaviors

Attempts to get people to reduce their carbon footprint have had mixed success at best, as many interventions focus primarily on increasing awareness or knowledge. Gamification has recently been used to break habits and induce enduring behavior change. Building upon this work, we designed a new game-based sustainability intervention and tested its effectiveness in two large-scale field studies (total N = 1975). In Study 1, playing our new sustainability game significantly reduced people's household electricity consumption six months after the game. In Study 2, playing the game led to increased self-reports of household efforts to save energy and perceived importance of sustainability. In both studies, high-energy consumers changed their environmental behaviors and attitudes the most. The research demonstrates that it is possible to induce a long-term change of habits in the sustainability domain. It also shows that neither attitude change nor conscious implementation intentions are necessary for behavior change.

Perspectivas para o cuidado de enfermagem às mulheres que denunciam a violência vivida

Objetivou-se apresentar perspectivas para o cuidado de enfermagem, a partir da apreensão do significado da ação das mulheres que denunciam a violência vivida. Pesquisa fenomenológica, à luz de Schütz. Cenário: Delegacia de Polícia para Mulher e de Pronto Atendimento de um município do Rio Grande do Sul. Participantes: mulheres de 18-59 anos que realizaram a denúncia da violência do companheiro. Projeto aprovado pelo CEP (n.23081.015518/2009-66). Foram desenvolvidas entrevistas com 13 mulheres. Apreendeu-se que a mulher significa uma relação de anonimato com o companheiro e busca relações de familiaridade para enfrentamento da violência. O anonimato acontece pela decisão de romper costumes, sofrimento e história em comum. Quer conduzir a denúncia até o final, acreditar na justiça e proteger/criar seu(s) filho(s). A busca por familiaridade aponta a necessidade de um cuidado de enfermagem a partir da realidade social das mulheres, para reconhecer demandas de saúde e romper a naturalização/aceitação da violência.

Different croaks for different folksDifferent croaks for different folks Midori Ochiai Jessica Kingsley 96 £12.99 1843103923 1843103923

Aimed at the children, this book provides a way of tackling some common difficulties experienced by children with autism and related spectrum conditions. It is fun and beautifully illustrated and uses characters such as Teacher Toad to give the messages. One message is that if we try a different approach to something difficult, we can find our own way to make it easier. The book focuses on social and physical difficulties, and provides practical advice on everything from breaking habits to problems with physical coordination.

Self-control under stress: The role of learned resourcefulness

Successful coping with stressful events involves self-regulation. We identified three kinds of self-regulatory process. The first occurs automatically and unconsciously in order to maintain the homeostasis of a person's physiological functions; the other two are under the person's cognitive and voluntary control. Redressive self-control is aimed at resuming normal functions that have been disrupted; reformative self-control is directed at breaking habits in order to adopt new and more effective behaviors. Coping with acute stress requires redressive self-control; the adoption of new behaviors such as health related behaviors requires reformative self-control. Learned resourcefulness refers to the behavioral repertoire necessary for both redressive self-control and reformative self-control. This repertoire includes self-regulating one's emotional and cognitive responses during stressful situations, using problem-solving skills, and delaying immediate gratification for the sake of more meaningful rewards in the future. Research findings indicate that highly resourceful individuals cope more effectively with stressful situations and are more capable of adopting health related behaviors as well as other behaviors that require reformative self-control.