Habit as a psychology concept

The Morning Stretch

Psychologists define a habit as an automatic behavior sequence, acquired through repetition, that occurs with little to no conscious thought, usually triggered by specific contextual cues. Habits form a "loop" (cue, behavior, reward) and are learned tendencies that can be difficult to change, acting independently of current motivation (Sutton, 2026, May 11). People and habits are different and can take between 18 to 254 days to form.

Cite this Post (APA)

Author: Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD

Sutton, G.W. (2026, May 11). Habit as a psychology concept. Psychology Concepts and Theories.  

https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2026/05/habit-as-psychology-concept.html Aspects of Habits

Automaticity

Behaviors become "second nature" and require minimal mental effort.

Context-Dependent

Triggered by specific environments or situations, such as time of day or a location.

Formed via Repetition

Habits are ingrained into neural pathways over time, taking anywhere from 18 to 254 days to solidify (Lally et al., 2010).

Common Examples of Habits

Daily Routines

Brushing teeth upon waking, showering, or making coffee.

Action/Routine-Based

Buckling a seatbelt, checking a smartphone upon waking, or shutting off lights when leaving a room.

Health Behaviors

Regular exercising, smoking, or eating snacks while watching TV.

Nervous/Minor Mannerisms

Nail-biting, hair twirling, or knuckle cracking. 

Habits are components of Observed Behavior -- the O Dimension in the 6 D SCOPES model of functioning.

Note

This page is for education and not personal advice. Consult health care providers for the most recent information and personal concerns.

Post Author

Geoffrey W. Sutton, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Evangel University, holds a master’s degree in counseling and a PhD in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His postdoctoral work encompassed education and supervision in forensic and neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. As a licensed psychologist, he conducted clinical and neuropsychological evaluations and provided psychotherapy for patients in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and private offices. During his tenure as a professor, Dr. Sutton taught courses on psychotherapy, assessment, and research. He has authored over one hundred publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in peer-reviewed psychology journals. 

His website is https://suttong.com 

You can find Dr. Sutton's books on   AMAZON    and  GOOGLE. 

Many publications are free to download at ResearchGate   and Academia