Citation

Mittal B. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 1988; 18(12): 993-1016.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1559-1816.1988.tb01189.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Triandis (1977, 1980) model of habit is applied in an investigation of attitude-behavior discrepancy for seat belt use behavior. Habit is conceptualized as automated response, and the measure employed here is shown to be discriminated from measures of intentions and behavior. A case is also made for a distinction between pro-intentional and counter-intentional habits. Data from a random sample of 197 adult respondents show that the two habits (a) are distinct; (b) operate differently, that is, use habit has a main effect whereas nonuse habit interacts with attitude/intentions; and (c) explain belt use behavior nonredundantly with intention and attitude (e.g., their addition to attitude raises R2 from 38.8% to 62.9%). Theoretical implications for understanding habit processes and programmatic directions for increasing the belt usage are discussed.