Denying Problems When We Don’t Like the Solutions (perhaps somewhat off-topic)

[GliderGuider]

62. It's all about reward feedbacks.

The rewards showed up early. My father was a research biochemist who gave me serious positive feedback for my demonstrated interest and ability in the sciences, as well as for thinking outside the box and for resisting authority. The dopamine rush I got from that approval cemented my approach to life very early. I found out very quickly that the more deeply and idiosyncratically I explored the world, the more approval I got.

My goal in demonstrating that I know what I'm talking about (or that even if I don't, my ideas are interesting enough to listen to anyway) isn't to change people's behaviour. It's all done for the dopamine release that comes from acknowledgement. There isn't a shred of "free will" in sight. It's all genetics, family history and neurotransmitter feedbacks.

I've tried to stop posting to DU four times now, but I can't. Dopamine is that addictive. The best I've been able to do is to move most of my activity over to Facebook - where there just happens to be even more dopamine available for someone like me.