Research paper
Quinn JM, Pascoe A, Wood W, Neal DT. Can't control yourself? Monitor those bad habits. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2010;36(4):499-511. doi:10.1177/0146167209360665
Why we cite it
Demonstrates through two diary studies (n=99, n=33) and one laboratory experiment (n=65) that habits and temptations require fundamentally different self-control strategies: vigilant monitoring (thinking "don't do it," watching for slipups) is the most effective strategy for controlling strong habits, while stimulus control (avoidance) works for temptations but not habits. Provides the mechanistic insight that monitoring strengthens inhibitory cognitive control processes without weakening the habit memory trace itself.