Enriching Psychology™: Understanding If Your Habit is Goal-Directed vs Stimulus-Response Behaviour

Sunday 24 April 2016

Understanding If Your Habit is Goal-Directed vs Stimulus-Response Behaviour

An indepth exploration of how a goal-directed behaviour (or habit) is different from a Stimulus-Response, and how each of them are formed in our brains, and then acted upon.

"Normal eating is goal-directed behavior; compulsive overeating is not. Compulsive overeating is a complex stimulus-response behavior. The stimulus varies (boredom, anger, happiness, sexual frustration, anxiety, and emotional triggers, etc.). The strength of the response may also differ. It could range from eating until your stomach feels slightly uncomfortable to eating until you vomit. Regardless, at the end of the day, compulsive overeating is just a goal-directed habit that has become a stimulus-response habit running amuck. [1] How does this neuro-drama unfold in the brain?"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/billi-gordon-phd/how-a-habit-becomes-a-cab_b_5367784.html

Danny Enright has over 20 years experience in Adult Education and 15 years in supervision and management. As a past board member of the British Columbia Organizational Development Network, and a student in the Langley Institute's "Diploma in Positive Psychology" program, Danny is fascinated by real-world, applicable insights into what makes individuals and groups successful, and how scientifically validated studies in positive psychology can enrich lives. Danny's efforts to understand his Tourette Syndrome has sparked his curiosity into the workings of the human mind, which have lead him to explore and apply revelations about neural-plasticity, positive habit formation, behavioural intervention techniques, self-awareness practices, and strengths analysis and utilization. Danny has moonlighted as an improv comedian and comedy writer, but for good reason, he has not given up his passion for his day job, and studying (and sharing) how to live an enriched life.

Words and Concepts

Acareability™... a combination of the words "Accountability" and "Care". It's when your friends family and colleagues lovingly hold you to the commitments you made. They have no vested interest in the results; only in your ultimate happiness and flourishing.

Talkwondo™... a "verbal martial arts" strategy that involves doing all you can to reduce friction in dialogue, and like other martial arts, provides ways to respond if the previous level of intervention did not work. Ends with strong verbal words that remain calm, but put you in control of the conversation.

Enriching Psychology™ is a reframing of the study of Positive Psychology, as well as the wisdom of timeless philosophers, ancient mystics and modern sciences. Sometimes our greatest selves evolve when faced with great challenges or strong questions, which enrich us and our circles to move to our next greatest selves.