Addiction: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Addiction-drugs-pills-prescription-pharmaceuticals.jpg|thumb|The most dangerous drugs are legal]] | |||
Addiction [[is bad]]. Don't do the same thing over and over again. | Addiction [[is bad]]. Don't do the same thing over and over again. | ||
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== Addiction, Neurons, and Feedback Loops == | == Addiction, Neurons, and Feedback Loops == | ||
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction Addiction] occurs when the [[feedback loop]] that rewards some pleasurable action becomes so [[ | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction Addiction] occurs when the [[feedback loop]] that rewards some pleasurable action becomes so [[Salience|dominant]] that it crowds out other sources of reinforcement, to the point of significant [[diminishing returns]] on [[happiness]] and rising negative [[consequences]]. | ||
It's a [[neural]] pathway that has been repeated so many times that it has synaptic connections to all kinds of stimuli, making it very easily triggered. It is like the [[god concept]] except [[god]] is replaced by [[drugs]], [[ | It's a [[neural]] pathway that has been repeated so many times that it has synaptic connections to all kinds of stimuli, making it very easily triggered. It is like the [[god concept]] except [[god]] is replaced by [[drugs]], [[Materialistic|shopping]], [[sex]], gambling, or whatever the person is addicted to. Once triggered, it is very hard to switch to any other [[neural]] pathway until the addictive behavior has been completed. | ||
== Addiction and Free Will == | == Addiction and Free Will == | ||
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Through [[moderation]] we can find ways to enjoy the pleasures of the [[universe]] while consciously avoiding [[addiction]] by regulating [[temptation]] with [[incentive]] structures based on [[best practices]]. | Through [[moderation]] we can find ways to enjoy the pleasures of the [[universe]] while consciously avoiding [[addiction]] by regulating [[temptation]] with [[incentive]] structures based on [[best practices]]. | ||
A lot of these [[incentives]] needs to be [[cultural]] since the [[legal]] system can't tell you how often to do something, only whether or not getting caught will result in some [[consequences]]. A [[culture]] that celebrates excess, one of the hallmarks of modern [[capitalism]], actively undermines [[moderation]] and promotes addiction in all areas. Instilling [[ethics]] and [[ | A lot of these [[incentives]] needs to be [[cultural]] since the [[legal]] system can't tell you how often to do something, only whether or not getting caught will result in some [[consequences]]. A [[culture]] that celebrates excess, one of the hallmarks of modern [[capitalism]], actively undermines [[moderation]] and promotes addiction in all areas. Instilling [[ethics]] and [[Taboos|cultural norms]] that encourage curiosity and diverse interests and discourage extreme, obsessive, or repetitive behavior, would reverse the social [[incentives]] that drive people towards addiction. | ||
[[Consumerism]] promotes the destructive [[meme]] that [[emotional]] problems can be solved by [[ | [[Consumerism]] promotes the destructive [[meme]] that [[emotional]] problems can be solved by [[Money|buying things]], and that [[Happiness|satisfaction]] comes from outside and not within. This [[Generating equation|creates addiction by design]]. Creating obsessive behavior targeted towards your brand is the goal of all [[advertising]]. We can have [[Capitalism|capital markets]] without allowing companies to poison the [[culture]] and undermine human [[happiness]]. But, once again, the [[legal]] system is ill-equipped to enforce this through regulation. It must be done through the widespread adoption of new [[cultural norms]] that treat [[consumerism]] with [[Taboo|derision]] instead of celebrating it. | ||
== Addicted to YouTube == | == Addicted to YouTube == | ||
Revision as of 00:58, 25 January 2024
Addiction is bad. Don't do the same thing over and over again.
Moderation and diverse sources of happiness are the path to prevention.
Addiction, Neurons, and Feedback Loops
Addiction occurs when the feedback loop that rewards some pleasurable action becomes so dominant that it crowds out other sources of reinforcement, to the point of significant diminishing returns on happiness and rising negative consequences.
It's a neural pathway that has been repeated so many times that it has synaptic connections to all kinds of stimuli, making it very easily triggered. It is like the god concept except god is replaced by drugs, shopping, sex, gambling, or whatever the person is addicted to. Once triggered, it is very hard to switch to any other neural pathway until the addictive behavior has been completed.
Addiction and Free Will
Addiction effectively limits what free will we have by narrowing the range of possible choices we can make, due to limits on time, money, and the low salience of other activities compared to the addiction.
Free will is an illusion. We can't choose to do anything at any point if we have sufficient willpower. We have a discreet number of things we do to feel good, and each one has a probability associated with it that determines how often we'll choose that thing. Things with a high salience for us have higher probabilities, like food, sex, hobbies, and parties. Then there might be a few dozen other activities we do from time to time but not regularly that have low probabilities. Every day we roll the quantum dice and do whatever our neurons decide.
Addiction increases the probability of the addictive behavior and decreases the probability for every other source of pleasure. The best simulation of free will is having as many possible behaviors with non-zero probabilities that might chosen. Addiction eventually reduces everything else to zero, which is why many say that it "takes away our free will".
Creating a Culture of Moderation
Through moderation we can find ways to enjoy the pleasures of the universe while consciously avoiding addiction by regulating temptation with incentive structures based on best practices.
A lot of these incentives needs to be cultural since the legal system can't tell you how often to do something, only whether or not getting caught will result in some consequences. A culture that celebrates excess, one of the hallmarks of modern capitalism, actively undermines moderation and promotes addiction in all areas. Instilling ethics and cultural norms that encourage curiosity and diverse interests and discourage extreme, obsessive, or repetitive behavior, would reverse the social incentives that drive people towards addiction.
Consumerism promotes the destructive meme that emotional problems can be solved by buying things, and that satisfaction comes from outside and not within. This creates addiction by design. Creating obsessive behavior targeted towards your brand is the goal of all advertising. We can have capital markets without allowing companies to poison the culture and undermine human happiness. But, once again, the legal system is ill-equipped to enforce this through regulation. It must be done through the widespread adoption of new cultural norms that treat consumerism with derision instead of celebrating it.
Addicted to YouTube
YouTube addiction is very real.[1] The algorithm is designed specifically to feed you the videos that are most likely to keep you watching. metaculture will at least try to send you down the right rabbit hole..