I believe that the intrinsic human problem in the modern age is our struggle with self-control, exacerbated by the abundance of stimuli from technology and information.

The dopamine dynamics show that quick inflections in dopamine lead to diminishing returns, causing people to chase feelings that no longer provide satisfaction.

Any high amount of dopamine that comes to you without effort will eventually lead to destruction or bring you close to it.

We need to distinguish between spending dopamine on low-effort activities and investing it in meaningful experiences that enhance our lives. We evolved to connect with other humans, and while relaxing activities like barbecues or watching Netflix can be enjoyable, they shouldn't be the only things we do.

Addiction can be defined as the pursuit of positive emotions over a very short time frame, which is evident in how social media platforms optimize for immediate gratification.

To maintain a healthy dopamine balance, we should avoid overindulgence and allow ourselves to experience some boredom and discomfort.

We are always releasing dopamine at a tonic baseline rate, and deviations from this baseline are what influence our experience of pleasure and pain.

Chronic exposure to substances or behaviors that release large amounts of dopamine can lower our tonic baseline over time, leading to a dopamine deficit state.

Excessive dopamine release can lead to habituation, where the brain becomes less responsive to pleasure, while simultaneously increasing the perception of pain, a mechanism that can contribute to addiction.