A tale of two influences: Commonalities and distinctions of the influences of habit and hedonic motivation on health behaviors.

What is it about?

Health behaviors, like exercising, eating well, or taking medication, are often thought of as conscious choices. But recent research is showing that many of these actions are shaped by automatic processes we may not even be aware of. Two key influences are habits and hedonic motivation. Habits form when we repeatedly respond to certain cues in the same way (like grabbing a snack when we sit on the couch). Over time, this response becomes automatic. Hedonic motivation, on the other hand, is about how we feel during or after a behavior. If something feels good (or bad), we tend to want (or avoid) doing it again. Although these two forces are different, they can work together. Our research explores how the emotional experience of a behavior, whether it’s enjoyable or unpleasant, can help build habits. For example, if someone feels good after a walk, they may start to want that feeling again. That emotional pull can encourage them to walk more often in similar situations, helping a habit take hold. We’ve developed a framework that connects these ideas to early theories of learning, which described how behavior is shaped by both environmental cues and the outcomes of our actions. We believe this framework can help researchers and practitioners design more effective health interventions by targeting both habits and emotional experiences. Future studies should look at how these processes naturally unfold in daily life and how we might influence them to support lasting behavior change.

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Photo by Gabin Vallet on Unsplash

Photo by Gabin Vallet on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Understanding how habits and emotions influence our health behaviors is crucial for creating long-lasting change. Many health interventions focus on conscious decision-making, but research shows that automatic processes (like habits and how a behavior makes us feel) play a big role in what we actually do day to day. By combining insights about habits and hedonic motivation, our framework shows how enjoyable experiences can help build strong, lasting habits. This matters because behaviors that feel good are more likely to be repeated, and those repetitions can help form healthy routines without needing constant willpower. For example, if someone enjoys walking, that feeling can encourage more walks until it becomes second nature. This understanding helps move beyond one-size-fits-all strategies, offering new ways to design interventions that tap into both emotional rewards and automatic patterns. With further research, we can better support people in building healthy habits that stick - improving well-being in sustainable, accessible ways.