Automatisms
Automatisms are established reactions, habits or patterns triggered by the context without a full conscious decision.
Definition
Automatisms are created by repeating a behavior in a similar context until a given response begins to trigger faster and with less conscious effort. They can be very helpful because they reduce cognitive load, but they can also perpetuate ineffective or harmful behavior. Changing automaticity usually requires recognizing the stimulus, the function of the old response, and designing a new response in the same context.
Key ideas
- Operating on autopilot
- The role of stimulus and routine
- Reprogramming by conscious replacement
Practice and life
Choose one unfavorable automaticity and describe the loop: stimulus - reaction - consequence. Then design a simpler, healthier response to the same stimulus and test it in a constant context.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to fight automaticity by sheer force of will without changing the context. What is often overlooked is the question of what function an old habit serves: relief, reward, avoiding tension, or saving energy.
> Autopilot saves energy, but it doesn't always get you where you want.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What trigger triggers my automatic pattern?
- How does an old habit benefit me?
- What new response might provide a similar benefit in a healthier way?