How the “Happiness” Hormone Dopamine Can Make You Unhappy
Learn how to avoid the Dopamine trap
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in your brain that influences motivation, memory, mood, sleep, behavior, and even movement. This also dictates how the brain’s reward system works.
When we get something we like, our brain releases dopamine- the primary driver of the brain’s reward system. Dopamine rewards us and then motivates us to continue repeating that behavior.
Some people call it the “happiness” hormone in short, although it’s more complicated than that.
What Dopamine does to our brain
The first time we receive something we like, the brain releases dopamine and we feel good. Our brain analyses what we had to do to get this reward. For example, let’s assume we run a product company and we have our distributors a 20% one-off commission for meeting 120% of their target. 2 distributors achieve that and get that extra commission. They feel good about that and their brain releases Dopamine.
Another (more personal) example would be eating junk foods. We love how it tastes and keep going back to them. Despite knowing that they are not good for our health.
Our brain reacts to Dopamine in a curious way
When I first ate at Mcdonald’s, I loved their Big Mac. My brain probably released a good chunk of dopamine then. It also assumed that whenever I’d have a Big Mac, I’d have the same dose of dopamine as a reward. So it created a reward pathway that suggests that whenever I’d have that burger, I’ll feel good.
Our brain usually connects “feel good” with survival. This is how the human race has stayed alive. Our ancestors went through a hard process to get food, water, shelter, etc., and then they felt relief. In today’s world, the process of getting the reward is not that hard, but the likeability of the reward remains.
As a result, the brain keeps telling us — “Do this, and you will be rewarded”. Every habit is formed from this reward mechanism — be it good or bad behavior.
That leads to the Dopamine trap
I ate a burger and felt good. I should feel similarly good the next time I ate a burger right? Well, it depends.
Dopamine works in a different way when we restart the reward pathway. When we do the same things that led to the reward, the brain releases the hormone way before we get the reward. The anticipation of the reward usually makes us feel good enough to release the hormone.
But, here’s the catch-
When we eventually get the thing we liked, the brain doesn’t release any more hormones. In a way, the brain has preponed the reward and taken it for granted. We kind of expect to feel good and that becomes the new normal.
But what if we don’t like the experience as much as we did the first time? If the experience doesn’t match our expectations, we become disappointed.
- The same distributor who was happy with a 20% commission would be pissed if he doesn’t get it again or gets less than 20%
- The employees who don’t get salaries on time will be mostly demotivated
- The customer who purchased your product at discount or got a gift will avoid your product if nothing is offered
- The burger I loved may seem like the most unappealing food
How to avoid the Dopamine trap
- Any reward/incentive we introduce has to be consistent
- Yet, there must be enough gap between repetitions to keep it interesting enough
For example, if we reward ourselves by booking a spa treatment after running a 5k, we have to continue giving ourselves that. We will then look forward to the hard work of running because of the incoming pleasure of the spa.
Final thoughts
Reward/incentive is a complex matter that should be handled with utmost care. The reward is supposed to be something special and exclusive. If we want it to motivate someone, we have to sprinkle it at the optimum dose.
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