I read that our brains release dopamine when we fulfill a survival need (ex: eating). I’ve also read that we become addicted to our phones because our brains release dopamine when we use them. Since a phone isn’t a survival need, why does this happen?

Question

I feel like this is a dumb question, but I’m really struggling with my phone addiction and I want to know why this happens. I’m also generally curious about the brain and how it works, especially in addiction cases. Is our brain evolution just not caught up with the new technology?

I’m already aware that our brains release dopamine when we use our phones, but why?

Yesterday I read that our brains release dopamine when we fulfill a survival need- the article used eating and sex as examples. Obviously we’ll die without eating, and our species will die without sex (reproduction), so it makes sense for our brains to reward us for these things.

But scrolling on a smartphone isn’t a survival need. It’s fun, but we won’t die without it. So why does my brain release dopamine when I use my phone, so much that I’ve become addicted to it (specifically scrolling)?

In: Biology

Answer 1

>So why does my brain release dopamine when I use my phone

Dopamine is a reward for searching or achieving new – so, doom scrolling, endless tik-tok playlists, game levels, etc.