Habits

Habits are learned dispositions to repeat past responses. They develop because many behavioral sequences (e.g., one's morning coffee-making routine) are performed repeatedly in essentially the same context and in much the same order. When responses and context cues repeatedly occur together, the potential exists for associations to form between these various elements. Once these associations form, the mere perception of the context can trigger the response. Contexts include elements of the physical or social setting (places, presence of others), temporal cues (time of day), and prior events (actions in a sequence).

Typing, driving a car, and wrapping wontons all become habitual with practice. When wontons become a staple at dinner, one doesn't need to decide specifically to wrap. Instead, wrapping is cued by time of day, ...