3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on the Power of Habits
3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on the Power of Habits
Crime Pattern Theory, the Obvious Choice & Unread Guilt Factor
I. Crime Pattern Theory
Why do people commit crimes in certain areas? Crime Pattern Theory suggests that some criminals pick targets based on opportunities they find during everyday activities:
As offenders move through routine activities of home, school, work, entertainment (shopping and recreation) they develop knowledge of the paths to their routine activities as well as areas around routine activities (personal awareness spaces). Different offenders may have different awareness spaces which may overlap. Generally, motivated offenders will discover potentially good target areas which offer a good choice of targets and low risk within their awareness space, although some will seek out uncharted areas.
—Leakha Henry & Brett Bryan, Paper on Visualising Motor-Vehicle Theft
In practice, someone might choose to break into a fancy car parked in a dark corner next to a public park. Because they pass it regularly on the way to piano lessons.
On a related note, check out my latest post with 5 Books on Intelligence Analysis to Level Up Your Critical Thinking Skills.
II. The Obvious Choice
Even for the average law-abiding citizen, opportunities play a major role in life. Author and master of micro habits James Clear explains:
People often choose products not because of what they are, but because of where they are. The more obviously available a product or service is, the more likely you are to try it.
People drink Bud Light because it is in every bar and visit Starbucks because it is on every corner. The truth, however, is that many of the actions we take each day are shaped not by purposeful drive and choice but by the most obvious option.
—James Clear, Atomic Habits
III. Unread Guilt Factor
It can be difficult to build a habit of reading newsletters. Especially if there are so many of them. Unread Guilt Factor is one of the reasons why we cancel our subscriptions. Not because we don’t enjoy the content. Because we cannot keep up with it.
The term was coined by Denise Law, then lead development manager at The Economist. Offering audio versions of articles seems to have helped the paper to keep readers happy. It’s great to have the option to listen to the content. Guilt-free while going about our day. For example on the way to piano lessons.
Coincidentally, you can now listen to 3 Ideas in 2 Minutes. Open the newsletter in the Substack iOS App and select the audio option in the top right-hand corner. 🐘
Have a great week,
Chris
themindcollection.com