How does habitus differ from habit?

Habitus refers to the ingrained habits, skills, and dispositions that individuals acquire through their life experiences and social contexts. It is formed through the internalization of social structures and influences how individuals perceive and react to the world around them. The correct answer recognizes that habitus is not merely a reflection of past behaviors; rather, it is a dynamic and generative concept that actively shapes perceptions, thoughts, and actions. It embodies the idea of how our backgrounds, social conditions, and experiences contribute to our understanding and approach to various situations.

In contrast, habit is typically understood as a more straightforward and often repetitive behavior that does not necessarily carry the depth of social context embedded in habitus. This distinction emphasizes the complexity of habitus as a framework that binds social and individual dimensions, forming a lens through which individuals interpret their environment and navigate social life.