---
id: "prereq-habit-loop"
type: "prereq"
source_timestamps: ["§ Dig a Habit Moat"]
tags: ["psychology", "behavioral-economics"]
related: ["concept-habit-moat"]
reason: "Required to understand the mechanics of how a 'habit moat' actually functions in the user's mind."
sources: ["attention"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-attention"
originDay: 4
articleStem: "hbr-tier2-07-chinese-ai-firms-habits"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/06/lessons-from-chinese-ai-firms-on-owning-customers-habits"
sourceTitle: "Lessons from Chinese AI Firms on Owning Customers’ Habits"
---
# Behavioral Science Habit Loop

## Prerequisite — The Behavioral Science Habit Loop

An understanding of the psychological habit loop consisting of a **cue (trigger) → routine (behavior) → reward**. This is foundational to understanding why users do **not consciously choose behaviors** once a habit is formed, and why **switching costs become irrationally high**.

**Why it matters:** Required to understand the mechanics of how a [[concept-habit-moat]] actually functions in the user's mind, and how [[framework-online-habit-conditions]] exploit it.

**Enrichment / canonical sources:** Charles Duhigg, *The Power of Habit* (the cue–routine–reward framing); James Clear, *Atomic Habits* (making behaviors easy/obvious/attractive); Nir Eyal, *Hooked* (trigger–action–variable reward–investment).


## Related across articles
- [[concept-subscription-psychology]]
- [[prereq-gacha-mechanics]]
- [[concept-blind-box-marketing]]