Summary

The article discusses how dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and reward, fuels modern consumerism and technology addiction, similar to addictions to porn, gambling, or drugs, and how this affects our choices and behaviors.

Abstract

The piece titled "Dopamine, the digital heroin" delves into the role of dopamine as a driving force behind our society's consumerism and technology dependency. It explains that dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals between neurons, was once crucial for survival in our hunter-gatherer past by motivating essential behaviors like eating and reproducing. However, in the current digital age, the same biological mechanism that once ensured our survival now contributes to addictive behaviors, such as overuse of social media and overconsumption, as our brains are wired to seek out the instant gratification that these platforms provide. The article categorizes the brain into three parts according to Oren Klaff's book "Pitch Anything": the Neocortex (analytical and problem-solving), the midbrain (social context and meaning), and the Crocodile brain (primitive, survival-oriented). It argues that social media and advertisements target the Crocodile brain, exploiting its primitive nature to influence our choices, often leading us to prioritize immediate pleasure (e.g., consuming content) over more effortful, productive activities.

Opinions

The author suggests that our society's obsession with technology and social media is a form of addiction driven by dopamine, akin to substance abuse or other compulsive behaviors.
Dopamine's role in our hunter-gatherer past is portrayed as more beneficial compared to its influence in the digital age, where it contributes to less advantageous behaviors.
The article posits that the brain's structure, particularly the Crocodile brain, makes us susceptible to the lures of social media and advertisements, which exploit our biological inclinations for survival and reproduction.
There is a critical view of modern consumer culture, implying that it has transformed individuals into addicts rather than thoughtful consumers

Dopamine, the digital heroin

The driver for our consumerism

It has become the backbone of our fast-paced society and economy. Our whole generation is raised on shiny flashy telephones. And we are all addicted to it.

It’s called dopamine. Which is the exact same thing as when someone is addicted to porn, gambling, or drugs. It’s all dopamine.

The same vicious circle as any other addiction. You feel depressed, you have a drink. But now you feel even more depressed. So you have another drink.

Only now its technology. When we feel lonely, we look to Social Media. Even though it the cause for it in the first place.

Dopamine, discovered in 1957, is a hormone and major neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are messengers between neurons, or nerve cells, and other cells. They ensure that our hearts keep pumping, our lungs keep breathing, and that we eat when we’re hungry.

Its main goal is to keep us alive and recreate.

In our savage times e.g. hunters and gatherers society, dopamine did us a better job than it does now. Building up fat was essential. And having 9 kids was way more fun than it is now.

Oren Klaff in his book “Pitch Anything” describes the brain as three separate parts. There is the Neocortex. Evolved to be the analytical and problem-solving part of our brain. It can think about highly complex issues and produces answers and choices using reason.

The midbrain, the second part, determines the meaning of things and social situations.

The other part though is what he calls the Crocodile brain. This is actually the first part of the brain. All the initial filtering of incoming messages and information gets done by the Croc brain. The fight or flight response. But when it comes to decision making, it is….well, primitive. Capacity is very limited. And most of what it does have is devoted primarily to the things it takes to keep us alive.

You can sense the three parts working separately. When you walk down the street and are surprised by someone shouting, your initial reaction will reflexively be with some fear. — The croc brain.

You will then try to make meaning of the situation. Your midbrain is placing the yelling guy in a social context and assesses the danger of the situation. Finally, you will process the situation in the neocortex, the problem-solving brain (which figures it out: “It’s okay. It’s just some guy yelling out to his buddy across the street.”)

Our thought process exactly matches our evolution: First, survival. Then, social relationships. And lastly, problem-solving.

Social Media and advertisements work towards the croc brain. And because it’s so primitive, it can easily be influenced. Our Croc brain will always go for the choice with the highest chance of survival, reproduction, or the highest distribution of dopamine.

That is why our cravings are for chocolate, not salad.

We have these options constantly throughout our life.

On the one hand, we have the option to consume personal-development content. And on the other to actually take action on these concepts.

If confronted with the choice between the two, our croc brain will simply go for the one which produces the most dopamine. It will go for consuming over producing.

Consuming is simple. It doesn’t require much energy or commitment. And the release of dopamine in consuming is the same as in producing.

Mad Man created consumers. We created addicts.