The usual condition are state of a person or

thing, either natural or acquired, regarded

as some thing had, possessed, and firmly
retained
m 
  is the process by which a
behavior becomes habitual.
m As behaviors are repeated in a consistent
context, there is an incremental increase in
the link between the context and the
action.
m This increases the automaticity of the
behavior in that context.
m Features of an automatic behavior are all
or some of: efficiency, lack of awareness,
unintentionality, uncontrollability.
m Habit formation is modeled as an increase
in automaticity with number of repetitions
up to an asymptote.
m A


 is a negative behavior
pattern.
m ¬ommon examples include:
’ procrastination
’ fidgeting
’ overspending
’ nail-biting.
m A key factor in distinguishing a bad habit
from an addiction or mental disease is
the element of willpower.
m If a person still seems to have control
over the behavior then it is just a 
.
m ×ood intentions are able to override the
negative effect of bad habits but their
effect seems to be independent and
additive ³ the bad habits remain but
are subdued rather than cancelled.
m According to author Bill Borcherdt, the best
time to correct a bad habit is immediately,
before it becomes established. So, bad
habits are best prevented from developing
in childhood.
m There are many techniques for removing
bad habits once they have become
established. One example is Ã
à 

 
 - identifying and removing the
factors which trigger the habit and
encourage its persistence.
m The basal ganglia appears to remember
the context that triggers a habit, meaning
they can be revived if triggers reappear.
m 
  
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 ´Watch your thoughts,
for they become words.
Watch your words,
for they become actions.
Watch your actions,
for they become habits.
Watch your habits,
for they become character.
Watch your character,
for it becomes your destiny.µ