Inhibitory control hinders habit change
Abstract Our habits constantly influence the environment, often in negative ways that amplify global environmental and health risks. Hence, change is urgent. To facilitate habit change, inhibiting unwanted behaviors appears to be a natural human reaction. Here, we use a novel experimental design to...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11971-6 |
| _version_ | 1828340730454605824 |
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| author | Kata Horváth Dezso Nemeth Karolina Janacsek |
| author_facet | Kata Horváth Dezso Nemeth Karolina Janacsek |
| author_sort | Kata Horváth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Our habits constantly influence the environment, often in negative ways that amplify global environmental and health risks. Hence, change is urgent. To facilitate habit change, inhibiting unwanted behaviors appears to be a natural human reaction. Here, we use a novel experimental design to test how inhibitory control affects two key components of changing (rewiring) habit-like behaviors in healthy humans: the acquisition of new habit-like behavior and the simultaneous unlearning of an old one. We found that, while the new behavior was acquired, the old behavior persisted and coexisted with the new. Critically, inhibition hindered both overcoming the old behavior and establishing the new one. Our findings highlight that suppressing unwanted behaviors is not only ineffective but may even further strengthen them. Meanwhile, actively engaging in a preferred behavior appears indispensable for its successful acquisition. Our design could be used to uncover how new approaches affect the cognitive basis of changing habit-like behaviors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:00:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ede2142a21a4ddfa3de5958b2b006cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:00:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ede2142a21a4ddfa3de5958b2b006cb2022-12-22T02:25:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-05-0112111110.1038/s41598-022-11971-6Inhibitory control hinders habit changeKata Horváth0Dezso Nemeth1Karolina Janacsek2Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd UniversityInstitute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd UniversityInstitute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd UniversityAbstract Our habits constantly influence the environment, often in negative ways that amplify global environmental and health risks. Hence, change is urgent. To facilitate habit change, inhibiting unwanted behaviors appears to be a natural human reaction. Here, we use a novel experimental design to test how inhibitory control affects two key components of changing (rewiring) habit-like behaviors in healthy humans: the acquisition of new habit-like behavior and the simultaneous unlearning of an old one. We found that, while the new behavior was acquired, the old behavior persisted and coexisted with the new. Critically, inhibition hindered both overcoming the old behavior and establishing the new one. Our findings highlight that suppressing unwanted behaviors is not only ineffective but may even further strengthen them. Meanwhile, actively engaging in a preferred behavior appears indispensable for its successful acquisition. Our design could be used to uncover how new approaches affect the cognitive basis of changing habit-like behaviors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11971-6 |
| spellingShingle | Kata Horváth Dezso Nemeth Karolina Janacsek Inhibitory control hinders habit change Scientific Reports |
| title | Inhibitory control hinders habit change |
| title_full | Inhibitory control hinders habit change |
| title_fullStr | Inhibitory control hinders habit change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inhibitory control hinders habit change |
| title_short | Inhibitory control hinders habit change |
| title_sort | inhibitory control hinders habit change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11971-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katahorvath inhibitorycontrolhindershabitchange AT dezsonemeth inhibitorycontrolhindershabitchange AT karolinajanacsek inhibitorycontrolhindershabitchange |