Wellness Monthly: Breaking Bad and Cultivating Good Habits

Habits are similar to but not the same as behaviors. A behavior occurs in response to a situation, stimulus or context. It may be short term and not follow a consistent pattern. A habit occurs automatically and is consistently repetitive. Habits often get their start as behaviors.

People observe behaviors and habits in others and adapt accordingly. For teenagers and adults, social norms, peer influence and coping mechanisms influence the shaping of habits. Studies show that young children who are raised with familiar rituals and routines have a higher likelihood of developing secure, healthy attachments, behaviors and habits as adults than children who are raised in chaotic, unpredictable environments.