The Four Laws of Behavior Change- PART II
THE SCIENCE OF HOW HABITS WORK
Welcome ! I’ve had a very stressful week, anyone who does the mainland to island trip would relate automatically, The traffic is life changing😆, due to the share amount of times I’ve thought about my life in that traffic
We’re building new habits in 2024 that will help us navigate the slim terrain that is entrepreneurship and 9-5 life,
Last week I told you about the Scientist Thorndike and the experiments he did with cats that gave us a glimpse of how the brain handles habits and formed the basis of what will discuss here
THE SCIENCE OF HOW HABITS WORK
Don't worry; you don't need to be a science student to understand this part. I have done a good job of breaking it down!
The process of building a habit can be divided into four simple steps: cue, craving, response, and reward.
This four-step pattern is the backbone of every habit, and your brain runs through these steps in the same order each time.
First, there is the cue. The cue triggers your brain to initiate a behavior. It is a bit of information that predicts a reward. Our prehistoric ancestors were paying attention to cues that signaled the location of primary rewards like food, water, and sex.
Today, we spend most of our time learning cues that predict secondary rewards like money and fame, power and status, praise and approval, love and friendship, or a sense of personal satisfaction.
People are not motivated by the same cues. For a gambler, the sound of slot machines can be a potent trigger.
Cravings are the second step, and they are the motivational force behind every habit. Without some level of motivation or desire—without craving a change—we have no reason to act. What you crave is not the habit itself but the change in state it delivers.
You do not crave smoking a cigarette; you crave the feeling of relief it provides. You are not motivated by brushing your teeth but rather by the feeling of a clean mouth. Every craving is linked to a desire to change your internal state. This is an important point.
Response is the third step! The response is the actual habit you perform, which can take the form of a thought or an action.
Whether a response occurs depends on how motivated you are and how much friction is associated with the behavior. Your response also depends on your ability to make it happen.
The response delivers a reward. Rewards are the end goal of every habit.
The cue is about noticing the reward.
The craving is about wanting the reward.
The response is about obtaining the reward.
We chase rewards because they serve two purposes: (1) they satisfy us and (2) they teach us.
THE HABIT LOOP
Together, these four steps form a neurological feedback loop. The entire process is completed in a split second, and we use it again and again without realizing.
We can split these four steps into two phases: the problem phase and the solution phase.
Problem phase
Cue: Your phone buzzes with a new text message.
Craving: You want to learn the contents of the message.
Solution phase
Response: You grab your phone and read the text.
Reward: You satisfy your craving to read the message. Grabbing your phone becomes associated with your phone buzzing.
Problem phase
Cue: You are answering emails.
Craving: You begin to feel stressed and overwhelmed by work. You want to feel in control.
Solution phase
Response: You bite your nails.
Reward: You satisfy your craving to reduce stress. Biting your nails becomes associated with answering email.
Phew! okay, I know I took your brain on a journey, but from all I have just explained we are going to then arrive at the The Four Laws of Behavior Change
That was it for today. Have a great week and I'll see you next Sunday!
— Dave♦|TheGrowthProject
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