The Power of Habit

by

Charles Duhigg

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Power of Habit makes teaching easy.

The Power of Habit Terms

Alcoa

Alcoa is the massive aluminum manufacturing corporation that Paul O’Neill ran as CEO and chairman from 1987 to 2000. read analysis of Alcoa

Basal ganglia

The basal ganglia are several regions in the center of the brain that play an important role in habit formation. read analysis of Basal ganglia

Brain stem

The brain stem is the part of the brain that connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord. It regulates basic, unconscious bodily functions like breathing, sleeping, and the heartbeat. read analysis of Brain stem

Cue

In the habit loop, the cue is the familiar stimulus that triggers someone to start a routine. For instance, anxiety might be a smoker’s cue to light up. read analysis of Cue

The Golden Rule of habit change

The Golden Rule of habit change is to replace the old routine with a new one, while connecting it with the same cue and reward. For instance, Alcoholics Anonymous teaches people to identify the… read analysis of The Golden Rule of habit change
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Reward

In the habit loop, the reward is the benefit associated with performing the routine. For instance, smoking might reward a smoker with a feeling of relaxation, which makes them more likely to keep smoking… read analysis of Reward

Routine

In the habit loop, a routine is the habit itself—or the automatic series of actions that someone takes in response to the cue. The routine then leads to a reward. For instance, smokers… read analysis of Routine