Habit formation, self-deception, and self-control

Takashi Hayashi () and Norio Takeoka ()
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Takashi Hayashi: University of Glasgow
Norio Takeoka: Hitotsubashi University

Economic Theory, 2022, vol. 74, issue 2, No 9, 547-592

Abstract: Abstract Recent research in psychology suggests that successful self-control is attributed to developing adaptive habits rather than resisting temptation. However, developing good habits itself is a self-regulating process, and people often fail to accumulate good habits. This study axiomatically characterizes a dynamic decision model where an agent may form a deceptive belief about his future preference: the agent correctly anticipates his future preference by considering the effect of habits; however, he is also tempted to ignore the habit formation. Self-control must be exerted for resisting such a self-deceptive belief. Our model is flexible enough to accommodate a variety of habit formation and explains behavioral puzzles related to gym attendance, self-control fatigue, and demand for commitment.

Keywords: Habit formation; Self-deception; Projection bias; Self-control fatigue; Addiction; Endogenous time preference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D15 D91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00199-022-01445-1

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