Discussion: View Thread

> Kim,
> I remember hearing the "21 rule" long before Covey's programs were
> around. I'm curious about the original source; hope someone knows it.
> Susie
> --


The first time I remember seeing this was in Napoleon Hill's book, "Think and
Grow Rich." I believe it was first printed back in the late 20s or early 30s.

As for support of the students, psychologists are the supposed experts on habit
formation. I find it is one thing to scoff (actually easiest thing to do), and
quite another thing to support the scoffing. I would reverse the question by
having the doubting psychologists supply countering evidence against the 21
iterations for habit formations. "What is the right number of repetitions to
form a habit?"

For me personally, I know intercourse only took one time, and I am sure that a
strong, lifelong habit was formed.

Finally, when psychology becomes an exact and perfect science, let me know.


ICQ #26317826
__________________________________
Great Optimism,

Dutch Driver
Abilene, TX 79605
mailto:Choragus@email.com
Home Page: http://home.att.net/~Choragus

Looking on the web I found:
"...the 21-day time period first appeared in pop psychology via Dr. Maxwell
Maltz, author of The Power of Psychocybernetics. A plastic surgeon, Dr.
Maltz noticed that it took 21 days for amputees to cease feeling phantom
sensations in the amputated limb. From that somewhat obscure beginning, the
21-day phenomenon has evolved into a staple of self-change literature.
Something of a habit, you might say."
Cited in:
http://organizedhome.com/issuesix/habit.html

Charlie Wankel
listmaster mg-ed-dv
wankelc@stjohns.edu

Dutch Driver's post reminds us that Thank G0D, some de novo behaviors don't
take much reinforcement, thouh I am sure my wife would say, in my case, 28
years of practice may be insufficient.

Regards, Kim Boal

At 09:35 PM 2/11/99 -0600, you wrote:
>> Kim,
>> I remember hearing the "21 rule" long before Covey's programs were
>> around. I'm curious about the original source; hope someone knows it.
>> Susie
>> --
>
>
>The first time I remember seeing this was in Napoleon Hill's book, "Think and
>Grow Rich." I believe it was first printed back in the late 20s or early
30s.
>
>As for support of the students, psychologists are the supposed experts on
habit
>formation. I find it is one thing to scoff (actually easiest thing to
do), and
>quite another thing to support the scoffing. I would reverse the question by
>having the doubting psychologists supply countering evidence against the 21
>iterations for habit formations. "What is the right number of repetitions to
>form a habit?"
>
>For me personally, I know intercourse only took one time, and I am sure
that a
>strong, lifelong habit was formed.
>
>Finally, when psychology becomes an exact and perfect science, let me know.
>
>
>ICQ #26317826
>__________________________________
>Great Optimism,
>
>Dutch Driver
>Abilene, TX 79605
>mailto:Choragus@email.com
>Home Page: http://home.att.net/~Choragus
>
--------------------------------
Kim Boal
College of Business Administration
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409
(806) 742-2150
KimBoal@ttu.edu