Habituels

Habituels is not a standard English term; in many contexts it is the plural form of the French adjective habituel, meaning usual or customary. In English writing the concept is usually referred to as habits or habitual actions. Habits are actions that are repeated in stable contexts and eventually performed with little conscious deliberation.

Habits form through repetition and reinforcement, gradually shifting control from goal-directed planning to automatic, stimulus–response routines. A common model is the habit loop: cue, routine, reward. Repetition in a consistent context strengthens the cue–response link, while changes in context can weaken or disrupt the habit.

Two learning systems influence behavior: a flexible, goal-directed system and a slower, habitual system. The habitual system relies on the basal ganglia, especially the dorsal striatum, and procedural memory. Dopamine reinforces repeated, rewarded associations, making certain actions more likely in familiar environments.

Understanding habits informs efforts to change behavior, promote health, and treat disorders. Techniques include breaking down routines into small steps, altering cues and environments, using implementation intentions, and habit reversal strategies. In clinical settings, compulsive behaviors in OCD or substance use disorders often involve maladaptive habit formation and may require targeted interventions to restore balance with goal-directed control.

Notes: The term habituels also appears in French to describe things that are customary; in linguistics, habitual aspect is a related concept used to describe routine actions in some languages.