Habits that save lives

I am not by any means a student of human behavior, but I am fascinated by it. There is a very cool article in this morning’s New York Times on using the same psychology used to manufacturer the need the causes us to buy products to do something far more important. Successful product marketing creates a need and then creates a habit.

Charles Duhigg writes that studies reveal, “as much as 45 percent of what we do every day is habitual — that is, performed almost without thinking in the same location or at the same time each day, usually because of subtle cues.” Marketers don’t just want you to buy a product, that want to make the product a habitual part of your life so that you keep buying the product.

This same marketing tactic can be used for pure good. In this instance, we are talking about saving lives in Africa by making the use of soap after a visit to the restroom a habit thus saving countless lives from deadly disease.

Check out the article here:

Warning: Habits May Be Good for You
By CHARLES DUHIGG
Published: July 13, 2008
Social scientists have learned that there is power in tying certain behaviors to habitual cues through relentless advertising.

It has me wondering, is there something here that would help people do some other things that are good for them, like praying and reading scripture?

Peace,

will