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Research

Episode 2: Breaking bad habits

We speak to researchers in the field of habit change to find out how to break bad habits or form new healthy ones.

18 June 2015

By PsychCrunch

In this episode we speak to psychology researchers in the field of habit change to see if their findings can provide real-life tips for people hoping to break bad habits or form new healthy ones. We can’t promise you a life of health and success as some self-help authors do, but we might be able to help you eat less chocolate!

Our guests are Dr Benjamin Gardner (Kings College London and University College London; UCL), Dr Katy Tapper (City University, London) and Dr David Neal (Catalyst Behavioral Sciences).

 

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Relevant background reading

Much of the research discussed by our guests has been covered previously on the Research Digest blog, including the Mindbus Technique; the time it takes to form new habits; and switching hands as a way to break the popcorn habit. Other research on habit change is also covered in our archives and there are many relevant articles available from The Psychologist magazine, including Self-control – the Moral MuscleThe Deadly Sins; and Why Is It So Hard To Quit Smoking?

Episode credits

Presenter/editor Dr Christian Jarrett.

Producer Dr Lorna Stewart.

Music and mixing Dr Catherine Loveday and Jeff Knowler.

Art work Tim Grimshaw.