Why do people get addicted to certain things?
Why do people hold on to bad habits?
Why do we experience pleasure each time we repeat a habit?
Mood regulation has always been one of the things that controlled human behavior to a great extent. The momentary pleasure a person can get right after eating ice cream or drinking Coke can be tempting for some people to resist.
Some foods contain substances that can help people produce hormones that improve their moods, and that’s why some people always binge eat when they feel bad.
But is mood regulation that simple? Is it always the direct relation between the habit and the brain chemicals that leads to addiction?
No, complex psychological factors can be why some people get addicted to certain habits in many cases.
Why are some people addicted to the news?
Why would someone become addicted to news?
Just like the food we eat can change our brain chemicals our thoughts can change them as well.
The way some people process news can result in instant mood changes that force them to become addicted. Here is a straightforward example; let’s suppose a man sold his dollars and bought euros instead.
In such a case, any news about weakness in the US economy will make that man feel better since he will know that his money is increasing.
In real life, the relationship between the news a person consumes and his mood is usually more complicated than it sometimes can’t be noticed on the conscious level.
What if a person likes to feel superior to others and couldn’t find the right way to do it?
In such a case, this man might become interested in reading about accidents without being consciously aware of the reason.
Whenever that man reads about an accident, his subconscious mind will compare his life to the life of the person who has been through the accident, and as a result, it will make him feel superior.
Of course, the man won’t be aware of any things taking place in his mind. His subconscious mind might even make him feel sorry for the people he reads about in order not to blow its cover.
How different needs lead to different types of addiction
Each person has different psychological needs that he wants to satisfy. Some people like to feel good about themselves; some want attention, while others might want to feel superior.
Based on his different needs, each person gets attracted to certain types of news that feed these needs. For example, The need to be right or the desire to prove others wrong can be why some people get addicted to news.
If a person went through a challenging debate with his friends and left the discussion feeling emotionally charged, he would be eager to prove himself right. In such a case, this guy might become addicted to news hoping that he will find what might prove him right.
Each and everything that you do in life tells a lot about your psychological makeup and unmet needs. By taking a quick look at your behavior and habits, you can get to understand yourself more.
