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Vivian Diep

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Is habit stronger than reason? If so can you provide an example of a situation where it is? If not, why?

I'm writing an essay on how habit is stronger than reason, however only to the extent where the habit affects us negatively. What are your thoughts? Do you think habit is stronger than reason or is reason stronger than habit? Also do you have an example of when habit overrules reason in our lives?

Topics: Reason & Logic habits psychology
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Jul 17 2012: Not all habits are stronger than reason, but some are.

    For example, if a cigarette addict is told to stop smoking because of imminent death as a result of the effects on his or her lungs, he or she may not be able to do so.
    We have also heard and seen similar effects of drug addiction or many celebrities.

    Certain habits have the hold of chains, and reason may be powerless against such.
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    Fritzie Reisner 100+

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    Jul 17 2012: A good starting place for research on your topic might be the TED talks under the tag "decisionmaking." Many note that a large number of our decisions each day are made by rote or on the basis of habit as a natural means of conserving our energy for the decisions we need to make that are non-routine, that involve new circumstances or less predictable outcomes.
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    Debra Smith 200+

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    Jul 17 2012: If we put the addictive elements aside for the moment, habit is a big factor in smoking and drinking alcohol or caffeine which are all bad for us but very socially encouraged. Over eating and eating white foods like polished rice and wheat are also implicated in this.
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    Scott Armstrong 50+

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    Jul 17 2012: When being reasonable is habit..

    These days, the word Habit has a negative connotation compared with the word Reason, which I think is inaccurate.

    If comfort is the main reason (excuse the pun) for the habit, then that often has a beneficial effect as opposed to emotionless reason, which sometimes creates conflict between what we view as rational/reasonable and how we actually live our lives.

    Smoking cigarettes is a great, current example.

    Be careful to clearly define the two concepts at the beginning of your essay.
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