PsychCrunch · The British Psychological Society Research Digest

Episode Two

June 18, 2015·12 min·1 clip

Christian Jarrett reveals his chocolate habit and asks if psychology can help break it.

This PsychCrunch episode, hosted by psychologist Christian Jarrett, explores the psychology of habits, from their scientific definition to strategies for changing them. Jarrett frames the discussion around his personal goal to break his evening chocolate-eating routine. He consults health psychologist Dr. Ben Gardner from University College London for expert insight. Dr. Gardner explains that while laypeople describe habits as frequent or hard-to-control behaviors, psychologists emphasize automaticity. A psychological habit involves acting without conscious intention, control, or full awareness. The conversation addresses how people often label behaviors as "habitual" to excuse them, especially if they are seen negatively. Jarrett's specific habit involves mindlessly eating chocolate while watching television in the evenings. A key insight is that the automatic nature of habits means people may not notice they are performing them. Gardner's definition separates the psychological concept from common value judgments about "good" or "bad" habits. The episode references popular self-help literature, including "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and books on "habit stacking." Jarrett contrasts these grand promises with his own modest goal, questioning what psychology truly offers. The host's personal anecdote illustrates how habits are often cued by specific contexts, like sitting down to watch TV. This sets the stage for a scientific examination of habit formation and change mechanisms. The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal narrative with expert interview. Listeners interested in practical, research-backed insights into behavior change would enjoy this episode. Those seeking dramatic life transformation narratives or purely theoretical discussions might find it too grounded.

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