The DOI matches its Crossref record; 153 of the 153 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A new look at habits and the habit-goal interface.
Abstract
The present model outlines the mechanisms underlying habitual control of responding and the ways in which habits interface with goals. Habits emerge from the gradual learning of associations between responses and the features of performance contexts that have historically covaried with them (e.g., physical settings, preceding actions). Once a habit is formed, perception of contexts triggers the associated response without a mediating goal. Nonetheless, habits interface with goals. Constraining this interface, habit associations accrue slowly and do not shift appreciably with current goal states or infrequent counterhabitual responses. Given these constraints, goals can (a) direct habits by motivating repetition that leads to habit formation and by promoting exposure to cues that trigger habits, (b) be inferred from habits, and (c) interact with habits in ways that preserve the learned habit associations. Finally, the authors outline the implications of the model for habit change, especially for the self-regulation of habit cuing.
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In the citing paper
“Research in a very wide range of settingscar use, recycling, blood donation, votinghas shown that people maintain these habitual behaviours, even if their goals change (Wood & Neal, 2007).”
From Identifying the characteristics of effective teacher professional development: a critical review (2021) · cites this paper as Wood & Neal, 2007
In the citing paper
“Experimental and observational research in a range of contexts, as well as evidence from neuroscientific research, shows that it is necessary to repeatedly practice new behaviours before they become automatic (see Wood and Neal, 2007).”
From Identifying the characteristics of effective teacher professional development: a critical review (2021) · cites this paper as Wood and Neal, 2007
In the citing paper
“Wood and Neal (2007) have proposed that repetition of behaviour in a consistent setting could lead to the development of goal-directed automaticity rather than habit when the behaviour is complex.”
From How are habits formed: modelling habit formation in the real world (2010) · cites this paper as Wood and Neal, 2007
In the citing paper
“Because exercise behaviours can be considered more complex than eating or drinking behaviours, development of automaticity for these behaviours may take longer or reach a lower maximum.”
From How are habits formed: modelling habit formation in the real world (2010) · cites this paper as Wood and Neal, 2007
In the citing paper
“The SRHI items used here assess automaticity rather than habit strength.”
From How are habits formed: modelling habit formation in the real world (2010) · cites this paper as Wood and Neal (2007)
Citations
Cites
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Telling more than we can know: Verbal reports on mental processes.
Nisbett, R. E., & Wilson, T. D. (1977) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.84.3.231 · Cited by 11,317 · cited 1×
“Specifically, people often have limited introspective access to the causes of their thoughts and behavior ( Nisbett & Wilson, 1977 ).”
BackgroundIn search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors.
Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C., & Norcross, J. C. (1992) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.47.9.1102 · Cited by 8,596
Conflict monitoring and cognitive control
Botvinick, M. M., Braver, T. S., Barch, D. M., Carter, C. S., & Cohen, J. D. (2001) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.108.3.624 · Cited by 7,351
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Implementation intentions: Strong effects of simple plans.
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Sheeran, P., & Webb, T. L. (2016) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/spc3.12265 · Cited by 2,185
How are habits formed: modelling habit formation in the real world
Lally, P., van Jaarsveld, C. H. M., Potts, H. W. W., & Wardle, J. (2010) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.674 · Cited by 2,036
Webb, T. L., Miles, E., & Sheeran, P. (2012) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0027600 · Cited by 2,006
“One interpretation of these findings might be that people find it easier to regulate amusement or sadness than other forms of emotion, perhaps because these emotions are more frequently encountered and regulated (see Wood & Neal, 2007, for a review on the development of habitual responding).”
BackgroundWood, W., & Rünger, D. (2016) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-122414-033417 · Cited by 1,445
Self-citationA taxonomy of behaviour change methods: an Intervention Mapping approach
Kok, G., Gottlieb, N. H., Peters, G.-J. Y., Mullen, P. D., Parcel, G. S., Ruiter, R. A. C., Fernández, M. E., Markham, C., & Bartholomew, L. K. (2016) · Health Psychology Review · doi:10.1080/17437199.2015.1077155 · Cited by 1,137
Metadata
- Authors
- Wood, W., & Neal, D. T.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- ORCID
- Wood, Wendy
- Venue
- Psychological Review
- Published
- 2007
- Volume
- 114
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 843-863
- ISSN
- 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1471
- OpenAlex
- W2103676101
- Cited by
- 1,470
- References
- 153
- Citations by year
- 2026: 141 · 2025: 69 · 2024: 115 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 89 · 2021: 75 · 2020: 182 · 2019: 71 · 2018: 87 · 2017: 78 · 2016: 68 · 2015: 88 · 2014: 88 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 72
- FWCI
- 36.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Duke University
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- habit, habit formation, goal-directed behavior, habit change
- MeSH terms
- Automatism, Cues, Goals, Habits, Humans, Motivation, Social Control, Informal
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