Cue Routine Reward Model

Behavior Change Strategies

The Cue-Routine-Reward model (Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit) is the simplest framework for understanding habits.

Cue: The trigger that initiates the behavior (time, location, emotion, people, preceding action).
Routine: The behavior itself (physical, mental, or emotional).
Reward: The benefit that reinforces the behavior.

Over time, this loop becomes automatic — the brain stops fully participating in decision-making and runs on autopilot.

Quiz

Pass: 3/3 correct

1. The Cue-Routine-Reward model was popularized by which author?

2. What is the 'Golden Rule of Habit Change'?

3. Cues come in five categories. Which is NOT one of them?

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