Chapter 8: How To Make A Habit Irresistible

Question 1

Supernormal stimulus

Answer 1

a heightened version of reality—like a beak with three red dots or an egg the size of a volleyball—that elicits a stronger response than usual.

Question 2

Dopamine release

Answer 2

dopamine is released not only when you experience pleasure, but also when you anticipate it.

Whenever you predict that an opportunity will be rewarding, your levels of dopamine spike in anticipation. And whenever dopamine rises, so does your motivation to act.

Question 3

Nucleus accumbens

Answer 3

researchers have found that 100 percent of the nucleus accumbens is activated during wanting. Meanwhile, only 10 percent of the structure is activated during liking.

Question 4

Temptation bundling

Answer 4

Temptation bundling works by linking an action you want to do with an action you need to do, e.g., only watching Netflix when riding stationary bike.

The habit stacking + temptation bundling formula is:

After I [CURRENT HABIT], I will [HABIT I NEED].

After [HABIT I NEED], I will [HABIT I WANT].