Force of habit can enslave or liberate

Force is one of the most prominent terms in physics. In its simplest form, force is defined as the ability to influence the movement of a given body. In other contexts, force is responsible for the structures of matter at both the small and big levels; it is also associated with the structure of the atom and the structure of the universe.

However, it takes a new meaning in the military, political, intellectual and social fields.

It is one of the most prominent terms in pol-itical science, as it implies influence of various types. It is thus an expression of the ability to influence the balance between two ends of an equation, or between powerful and weak parts.

In political science, force can be categorised into three levels: brutal, soft and intelligent.

The first relies on the iron-fisted approach while the second is best described as imposing power while wearing soft gloves, thereby paving the way for pacts and diplomatic deals.

The third is a mixture of the first and second.

There is also another — invisible — force at play, which promotes devotion to political allegiances and sustains weak regimes. It is a force which is not exerted by a strong party on a weak one; rather, it is the authority of the individual over himself voluntarily and unconsciously.

This force is the state of getting used to things, or getting accustomed to situations and surroundings. The prominent features of this force are idleness, laziness, submissiveness, and getting used to the monotony of daily life.

This force is manifested also in the robotic conduct of human beings.

All over the world, the majority of people have different habits that influence their behaviour.

They wake up at a certain time, eat their breakfast, and go to work using the same road everyday. They then return home and watch the news on television, read a newspaper for news about the same people.

It is a monotonous, repetitive life, which individuals are keen on holding on to.

Habits are actions repeated by an individual without thinking about how they may affect his future and that of his community.

We can say that the power of habit is one of the most important forces that controls humans. It is a soft force, which seems completely harmless and starts tying up the individual without making its pressure felt; it does not push or urge anyone to break free from its grip.

Influence

It is not a force which emerges as a result of instinct. In fact, it is a result of influence of the family surroundings and the community. Some of its traits are derived from values, customs and traditions.

When we carry out a certain task for the first time, we hesitate a bit — involuntarily — and we go back to our own values, customs and traditions to assess whether this job clashes with or contradicts the essence of these norms.

Once we get used to carrying out this task, it becomes an integrated part of our personality and we no longer need to resort to our system of beliefs and values. Hence, the task becomes a habit. It is then that we absolve ourselves of the responsibility of controlling our behaviour, and we no longer ask ourselves if this job is acceptable or not.

This, in fact, destroys the rejuvenation and renewal system present inside each and every one of us.

Forming habits voluntarily makes us slaves of a routine which makes life miserable and paralyses its development.

A number of studies have pointed out that 95 per cent of what we do as work is a repetition of things we have done before, and it is here that habit-formation takes root. The French philosopher and Nobel Prize winner Rene Solis said: "All those who are overcome and controlled by the force of habit become humans that move like robots."

The German philosopher Immanuel Kant said in this context that the more habits control a human being the less independent and free he becomes. Whereas Jean-Jacques Rousseau expressed his strong view regarding this issue saying that the best habit an individual can acquire is not to get used to anything.

Some of the habits we hold on to are good, such as abiding by the allowed speed limit and working out in a gym. These habits are good for both the individual and the community.

There are also bad habits that lead to holding on to old ways of dealing with issues and traditions, thus cutting off new ideas.

The cerebral style, which controls the habit forming process in the mind of human beings, is not very clear.

However, a recent study by the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has pointed out that habits are attributed to the existence of a primitive willingness that will be polished through experience.

The power of habit is also considered an element of stability for both the individual and the community. It is a force which creates the fear of stepping out of norms and thus serves the authorities and regimes, and traditions.

Once people break free of this force the balance of the system tips over, and this is what happened in the countries that have experienced the Arab Spring.

Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.