Is it in Our Insticnts to like Habit?

Question

For Humans, do we like habit, the repition of having to do something? Is it in us to like schedules and things that we have to do constantly, repitiously?

Answer 1

I believe that there are sound biological/genetic reasons for this.  Like many animals, we are regulated by certain ultraviolet spectra to wake up in the morning and to become tired at night.  As a life-long insomniac, I can attest that most people experience cognitive and physical problems as a result of sleep deprivation.  Our activity levels throughout the course of a day are similarly affected by environmental and biochemical stimuli.  

The points that Mathilda raises are part and parcel of this, and the fact that we are social organisms.  We are not only prone to regular daily rhythms by biology, but socially programmed to conform to the daily rhythms of others close to us or with whom we interact.  Hence, we have expectations and naturally concern ourselves with others' expectations.  

I think instinct is a good way to think of this, though I have some reticence to use that word because of its connotations - I think a lot of what we call 'intelligence' among humans is the same as what we call 'instinct' among animals, and I think humans tend to obsess too much on our own form of consciousness, but that's a subject for a different discussion.

Answer 2

Yes, a repetitive life is usually a predictable and safe life, and less stressful than having to figure out each new day from scratch.

When you try new things, you might have an adverse outcome, like producing less food, or getting sick or injured, or worse. The familiar is safer.

Answer 3

Through trial & error, we live this way, because it's energy efficient & economical!

Answer 4

We do things over again in order to keep things in our life in order and simple. At least we try to.