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

Socialization is a survival need, and the phone can meet this in a lot of different ways (e.g. worried that your tribemates don’t like you and will ostracize you, keeping watch together for dangers on the horizon, finding a mate to produce offspring with).

Also the designers of the various apps try to make them as engaging as possible, utilizing other subconscious tricks (e.g. bright colors might signify blood or berries, so perhaps we are hardwired to notice them more easily).

If you want a tip to reduce engagement with your phone, my wife has found success making everything grayscale (there’s probably some app for that). She finds it easier to disengage without color.