Predicting Behavior From Actions in the Past: Repeated Decision Making or a Matter of Habit?

Abstract

This paper summarizes research on determinants of repeated behaviors, and the decision processes underlying them. The present research focuses on travel mode choices as an example ofsuch behaviors. It is proposed that when behavior is performed repeatedly and becomes habitual, it is guided by automated cognitive processes, rather than being preceded by elaborate decision processes (i.e,, a decision based on attitudes and intentions). First, current attitude-behavior models are discussed, and the role of habit in these models is examined. Second, research is presented on the decision processes preceding travel mode choices. Based on the present theoretical and empirical overview, it is concluded that frequently performed behavior is often a matter of habit, thereby establishing a boundary condition for the applicability of attitude-behavior models. However, more systematic research is required to disentangle the role of habit in attitude-behavior models and to learn more about the cognitive processes underlying habitual behavior.Social psychology is concerned with gaining insight into the psychological antecedents of socially relevant behaviors and the processes underlying them. For instance, on a global level, investigators and practitioners attempt to understand the factors influencing individuals' decisions to engage in behaviors related to health (e.g., smoking, exercising), safety (e.g., following safety instructions at work, using seat belts), and the environment (e.g., recycling, using private cars) in order to prevent, promote, or change these behaviors. Indeed, in the last 25 years, considerable progress has been made in explaining and predicting the initiation of human behaviors as revealed by currently popular attitude-behavior models (e.g., Ajzen,

Disentangling household and individual actors in explaining private electricity consumption

“…The impact of habit on individual behaviour was successfully demonstrated in various behavioural areas like travel mode choice (Aarts et al 1998), recycling (Knussen & Yule, 2008) or eating (Verplanken, 2006). In a laboratory experiment of turning off the light upon leaving a room, De Vries, Aarts and Midden (2011) found that when distracted, a person's habits are automatically triggered by the situation.…”

Car Use Habits: An Obstacle to the Use of Public Transportation?

“…Studies of the habit-intention-behaviour relationships regarding travel-mode choice have confirmed Triandis's (1977;Landis, Triandis, & Adamopoulos, 1978) theory that behavioural intentions and habits interact in determining behaviour, meaning that the stated intention is a good predictor of behaviour only under conditions of weak habits while intention is a bad predictor of behaviour when habits are strong (e.g., Aarts et al, 1997;Gärling et al, 2001;Verplanken et al, 1994;Verplanken et al, 1998). For instance, Verplanken et al (1994) found that the correlation between the attitude towards a specific travel-mode option and travel-mode choice (for shopping trips to either of two cities lo-cated approximately 5 miles away and where a realistic public transport option existed) was significantly weaker for strong than for weak habit individuals.…”

“…Insert Table 6 around here Previous research and reasoning about the nature of decision-making regarding habitual behaviours suggest that information about opportunities for and the benefits of public transportation stands small chances of breaking a habit of commuting by car e.g., (Gärling & Axhausen, 2003;Verplanken et al, 1998). Instead, we suggest that there is a need to explore the possibilities for implementing structural changes that are both strong enough to force or entice car-users to at least try available public transportation options and acceptable for car-users (voters) as well as for politicians.…”

“…This study is heavily inspired by studies by Verplanken and his associates (e.g., Verplanken et al, 1994;Verplanken et al, 1998). However, our angle is slightly different.…”

“…In recent years, Dutch (Aarts, Verplanken, & Knippenberg, 1998;Verplanken, Aarts, Knippenberg, & Knippenberg, 1994;Verplanken, Aarts, Knippenberg, & Moonen, 1998) and Swedish (Gärling, Boe, & Fujii, 2001) researchers, in particular, have made substantial advances in demonstrating the importance of habits for the choice of modes of transportation. Consistent with these findings a recent Danish study found that past behaviour is a stronger predictor of the use of public transportation than the attitude towards using public transportation, public transportation's ability to cover the individual's transport needs, and perceived social pressure to use public transportation (Thøgersen, 2001).…”