Abstract. Much of our daily behaviour is habitual. Habits are defined as
behaviours that are performed with a minimum of cognitive effort. Habits allow
for an effective use of our limited cognitive capacities. However, due to this
automatising of behaviour, habits are less susceptible for change than reasoned
behaviour. Especially when a habit provides positive outcomes in the present
but detrimental outcomes on the long run, one can speak of a ‘bad habit’. Such
‘bad habits’ are hard to change because cognitive information on negative
outcomes will hardly affect the automatised behavioural scripts. This chapter
describes the emergence of habits from a dynamical perspective. This implies
that a perspective is drawn on what type of processes play a role at what stage
in the development of a habit. This dynamical perspective provides indications
for effective strategies to break habits.