Summary
This chapter synthesises evidence on how habitual behaviours—those performed automatically in response to contextual cues—can be shaped or disrupted to support behaviour change. Gardner, Rebar and Lally identify three core strategies: avoiding cues, inhibiting responses to cues, or learning new habit associations to displace old ones. The authors argue that habit interventions are typically acceptable and show potential for meaningful behaviour change, though success depends on sustained motivation, individual characteristics, and features of the target behaviour and context.
Regional applicability
This is a methodology and theory chapter not geographically anchored. The principles of habit formation and cue management are internationally applicable, though specific implementation in UK food and health contexts would require adaptation to local environmental and cultural factors.
Key measures
Acceptability and effectiveness of habit interventions; behaviour change outcomes; habit formation rates
Outcomes reported
The chapter examines strategies for forming new habits and disrupting unwanted habitual behaviours through cue-behaviour association manipulation. It evaluates the acceptability and effectiveness of habit interventions in achieving behaviour change.
Topic tags
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