Beyond CBT: SIVHs, Neuroticism, and the Leap of Faith Toward Sustainable Habit Formation

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has long stood as a gold standard within clinical psychology, credited with helping individuals reframe dysfunctional thoughts, regulate emotional states, and adjust maladaptive behaviors (Beck, 2011). Its triangular model, connecting thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, has been validated across diverse clinical settings and neurological studies (Hofmann et al., 2012).

However, when it comes to habit formation, particularly among individuals with high neuroticism — specifically those with a strong withdrawal sub-trait and high biological politeness — CBT often encounters critical limitations. These individuals frequently experience inaction, despite fully understanding the logical imperatives for change, due to their unique psychometric and neurochemical profiles.

In this paper, I propose a novel conceptual framework, Structured Internal Value Hierarchies (SIVHs), as a superior model for fostering sustainable behavioral change in such individuals. This model departs from CBT’s traditional focus on cognitive restructuring and instead prioritizes an action-first, values-driven approach that aligns more closely with the existential “leap of faith” found in both ancient philosophy and religious narratives.

The Three Principal Problems in CBT Application

While the validity of CBT as a therapeutic model is beyond dispute, its implementation in habit formation, particularly in avoidance-prone individuals, faces three primary limitations.

Problem 1: False Visual Heuristics

CBT's widely recognized triangle diagram — presenting thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as equally weighted components — can unintentionally lead to a cognitive bias. Clients may infer that thoughts and feelings “outvote” behavior, creating a subconscious expectation that behavioral change should be postponed until internal harmony is reached.

This heuristic error is problematic for high-withdrawal individuals, who already possess a proclivity toward inaction. From a behavioral science standpoint, this is a distortion: behavioral activation research shows that action often precedes and reshapes internal states, not vice versa (Mazzucchelli, Kane, & Rees, 2009). A more accurate heuristic would visually prioritize behavior as the dominant factor in catalyzing change.

Problem 2: Categorically Mistaken Starting Point

CBT interventions frequently begin by targeting cognitive distortions, working under the assumption that thoughts are the easiest entry point for altering emotions and behaviors. While this may be true for minor or surface-level issues, it fa ils in cases where deep-seated behavioral inertia is sustained by high neuroticism and serotonergic dysregulation(Cools et al., 2008).

For habit formation in individuals prone to withdrawal, action cannot be contingent on favorable thoughts or emotions, as these are unlikely to precede or accompany early-stage behavior. The required shift is from a cognitive-first approach to an action-first approach, where behavior occurs despite emotional friction.

Problem 3: The Goal-Orientation Trap

CBT and many behavioral models often frame success through the “compounding gains” narrative — small incremental changes that eventually yield significant results. This mirrors familiar tales such as The Ant and the Empty Pantry or The Thread that Wove a Cloak, where small efforts lead to abundant success over time.

However, for individuals with high neuroticism, this external goal-orientation can undermine habit resilience. When early efforts do not yield visible rewards, it increases frustration and avoidance behaviors. Instead, SIVHs reframe habit formation as an act of value-based sacrifice, independent of external milestones.

The Neurochemical Barrier to Action

The maintenance of habits is not solely a matter of willpower or goal clarity. Serotonin, a critical neurotransmitter in mood and behavioral regulation, plays a key role in determining whether individuals can sustain action in the absence of immediate rewards (Tops et al., 2010).

For individuals with high withdrawal, suboptimal serotonergic activity prevents even the internal conflict required to weigh the benefits of action versus inaction. There is no “mental battle” to win because emotional inertia suppresses engagement altogether. This is distinct from procrastination or rationalized avoidance; instead, it reflects a quiet passivity, marked by blunted emotional engagement and cognitive detachment.

False Calibration and the Fivefold Overestimation Bias

Even when clients attempt micro-habit formation, they frequently misjudge their capacity. In most cases, they calibrate their new behavior based on present-moment effort estimates — for example, choosing a walking goal that feels reasonable on a “good day.” However, when factoring in mood volatility and energy fluctuations, the sustainable threshold is often only 20% of their original target. This constitutes a fivefold overestimation bias, especially in individuals prone to neurotic withdrawal.

Paradoxically, the habit goals that seem ridiculous in their minimalism are often the most realistic and sustainableover time. This seemingly “small” action helps bypass neurotic resistance while building the psychological muscle needed for long-term behavioral automation (Fogg, 2019).

Facing Negative Consequences as Motivation

While CBT often promotes positive visualization to motivate change, this is insufficient for individuals whose affect regulation is skewed toward threat sensitivity. For these profiles, focusing on the destructive consequences of inaction is often more potent.

This method mirrors existential psychotherapy and logotherapy, which argue that confronting mortality and meaninglessness can foster deep behavioral and psychological transformation (Frankl, 1946; Yalom, 1980). In SIVH, the motivational driver is not a future reward, but the internal fear of violating one’s core value system, producing meaningful suffering instead of meaningless inaction.

SIVHs: The Leap of Faith to Sustainable Change

SIVHs (Structured Internal Value Hierarchies) offer an action-first model that reframes habit formation as a matter of moral and existential alignment, not external gain. Rather than focusing on thoughts or feelings, individuals make a “leap of faith to action”, engaging in micro-habits as acts of loyalty to their singular top value.

A Biblical Parallel: Matthew’s Call to Action

An apt parallel can be drawn from Matthew 9:9 and Luke 5:27-28, where Jesus calls Matthew with a simple imperative:

“Follow me.”
Without overanalyzing or waiting for internal comfort, Matthew immediately acts, despite the loss of status, wealth, and comfort. The only certainty is the clear alignment with a singular aim—following an overarching purpose.

This mirrors the SIVH process:

• Immediate action despite internal dissonance,

• Acceptance of meaningful suffering in service of the hierarchy’s apex value,

• Recognition that external achievements are by-products, not primary motivators.

Conclusion: Why SIVHs Surpass Traditional CBT in Habit Formation

While CBT provides valuable techniques for cognitive reframing and mood regulation, it often falters when applied to individuals prone to chronic avoidance or withdrawal, whose behavior cannot be mobilized by cognitive or emotional alignment alone.

SIVHs circumvent this by:

• Prioritizing behavior over internal states,

• Rooting habits in value-based commitment,

• And fostering the acceptance of discomfort as a transformative force.

Ultimately, SIVHs represent not just a habit model, but a philosophy of action that integrates insights from behavioral science, neurochemistry, and existential psychology — a model built to sustain behavior long after dopamine-driven motivation fades.