You are what you repeatedly do: Links between personality and habit

Several socio-cognitive theories of personality describe habit development as an integral process of personality development. Yet, no empirical research has rigorously examined linkages between personality traits and habits. In the present study, participants (N = 459) reported perceived automaticity, intrinsic rewards, and extrinsic rewards for several of 25 total behaviors; they also self-reported two important traits: conscientiousness and neuroticism. Conditional multilevel mediation analyses were used to assess the effect of each conscientiousness and neuroticism on automaticity through intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for each behavior. Across behaviors, conscientiousness was negatively associated with behavioral automaticity, and neuroticism positively predicted it. Specifically, conscientiousness appeared to protect against automaticity for health risk behaviors but did not promote automaticity for behaviors performed frequently by those high in conscientiousness; conversely, neuroticism positively predicted automaticity even for behaviors not performed more frequently by those high on the trait. Perceived intrinsic and extrinsic rewards mediated the link between traits and automaticity for some behaviors (e.g., sugary drink consumption), but these effects were not consistent across all behaviors. These findings offer some of the first empirical insights into the links between personality and habits.

Automated summary

This study found that conscientiousness was negatively associated with behavioral automaticity, while neuroticism positively predicted it. Conscientiousness seemed to protect against automaticity for health risk behaviors, and neuroticism positively predicted automaticity even for behaviors not frequently performed by those high in the trait. Perceived intrinsic and extrinsic rewards mediated the link between traits and automaticity for some behaviors, such as sugary drink consumption.