Jeremiah Faith, Butson Russell, Oke Adekunle
Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, Lincoln University, PO Box 85084, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand.
Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Psychol Res. 2025 Mar 6;89(2):61. doi: 10.1007/s00426-025-02092-6.
Human existence is shaped by interconnected patterns and repetitions that unfold in rhythmic cycles, from biological functions to socially constructed behaviors. While innate (physiological) and natural (environmental) cycles remain fixed, self-constructed cycles, such as routines and habits, are more dynamic, shaped by human agency. These repetitive behaviors often enhance efficiency, goal achievement, well-being, and stress reduction. However, over-reliance on them can lead to rigidity, inhibiting innovation, serendipity, and adaptability. In an era of rapid technological change, the highly routinized lifestyle of the industrial age may no longer be optimal. Drawing insights from a systems-thinking perspective, we reconceptualize routines and habits as dynamic constructs that offer both stability and adaptability in shaping human behavior. This paper contributes to the academic discourse on temporal structures and innovation by critically examining how routines function as both enablers and constraints in a rapidly evolving world, offering practical insights into fostering greater flexibility in behavioral and adaptive patterns.
人类的生存由相互关联的模式和重复构成，这些模式和重复以有节奏的周期展开，从生物功能到社会建构的行为皆是如此。虽然内在（生理）和自然（环境）周期保持固定，但自我构建的周期，如日常惯例和习惯，则更具动态性，由人类能动性塑造。这些重复行为通常能提高效率、实现目标、增进幸福感并减轻压力。然而，过度依赖它们可能导致僵化，抑制创新、意外发现和适应能力。在技术快速变革的时代，工业时代高度程式化的生活方式可能不再是最优的。从系统思维的角度汲取见解，我们将日常惯例和习惯重新概念化为动态结构，它们在塑造人类行为时既提供稳定性又具备适应性。本文通过批判性地审视日常惯例在快速变化的世界中如何既成为行为的促成因素又构成限制因素，为关于时间结构和创新的学术论述做出贡献，为在行为和适应模式中培养更大灵活性提供实用见解。
