This weeks reading was mainly focused on the attractiveness of a habit, the 2nd law of behavior change. After, having discussed how to make a habit invisible last week, the attraction of a habit is described as a dopamine-driven feedback loop. The feedback loop is ran by the increased dopamine levels from anticipation and reward of an action, which is why a habit is difficult to quit.
The Author, then explains what initially determines what habits are attractive. Due to human nature and our crave for acceptance and conformity, our family, friends, and culture have a major impact. We see this happening all over school campus; there are many fellow classmates who have become victims to vaping or other like actions. There are various reasons to why our peers have developed these habits, but at the end of the day they first indulged in these activities to try out what society is constantly portraying as an acceptable social interaction.
Consider, why is it a brag contest to see who slept at the latest time, or who started their work the latest? Consider, the fact that because our classmates are all procrastinators, we ourselves have become procrastinators. Is it a part of our want to conform to society, be able to relate to others, and be involved in the conversation that we have developed the habit of procrastination?
I like the description of a habit as a dopamine-driven feedback loop. It illustrates the addicting nature of habits which, like you said, makes them difficult to quit.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the idea that many habits stem from our desire to conform to society and our fear of not fitting in. I also like your examples of vaping and procrastinating as habits that society has deemed acceptable and in many cases, even "cool." We need to come to terms with the fact that these unhealthy habits are not acceptable. Society must come together and realize the devastating outcomes of the habits we allow, and even develop ourselves, and put an end to them.
- Annika H
You did a really good job summarizing everything you read Xela. I have the same book as you and my group as well read the 2nd Law of Behavior Change for this week's reading.
ReplyDeleteI agree that habits come from people's want and desire to fit in and conform with society. The examples you've used are really great examples. On campus, it's become a habit for some people to vape due to a want to fit in or get rid of pain. It has also become a habit for people to speak the way they do or act the way they do due to the influences of others they hang out around. All of these things should not be how our society function anymore, change needs to happen for the better of the future.
I like the description of a habit being a lop and it is almost always something that is comforting to humans or people. It is weird how we brag about things that we are unhealthy for, but I think that it is because the way that students think in school is that it is noraml to do things late. Since it's normal to do things later than usual and procrastinate, the later that its done means that they can do something faster (at poorer quality), making them seem smart in a sense.
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