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We tell ourselves: this piece is the last one. But as a result, we eat a whole cake. One more thing. We know that we will be ashamed later, but we cannot help ourselves. Why?
Reason #1: From Pleasure to Addiction
Psychologists distinguish two types of pleasure. The first is the familiar feeling of happiness. We get it from good food, sex and erotic caresses, the first sip of water after a long run. This pleasure is connected with the work of our sympathy system (the opioid system). It turns off when we get what we wanted.
But there is another type of pleasure. It is associated with excitement, the search for new sensations, excitement, temptation, risk. Unlike the first one, it encourages us to go further, not to stop at the first bite and the first sip. This is the desire system (dopamine system). This is what makes us do stupid things.
The clearest example is drugs. Cocaine and especially methamphetamine cause a “short circuit” in the dopamine system. The addict’s desire quickly becomes overwhelming and forces him to sacrifice money, health and relationships with loved ones for a new dose.
Dopamine also plays a role in morbid gambling, overeating, and sex addiction. Even if a person knows that tomorrow he will be ashamed, the impulse is so strong that it is impossible to resist it.
Reason #2: Deprivation, suppression and obsession
Anyone who has ever been on a diet knows the effects of deprivation. Giving up our favorite foods not only makes us unhappy. He makes us obsessed. Food becomes the only important thing in their lives. When they watched a romantic movie, they were not interested in the experiences of the characters. But they noticed all the scenes where the characters ate.
What happens when we voluntarily limit ourselves? If you impose a severe prohibition on yourself – not eating sweets, cutting expenses drastically, not thinking about an ex-partner – thoughts of forbidden pleasure begin to plague you.
But that’s not all. When you try to suppress these thoughts, they become even stronger. Why? Suppression is like trying to keep an inflated balloon underwater. Suppressed desire not only constantly reminds of itself. Once you relax, it will break free.
Pass the tests
- How dependent are you on the internet?
Reason #3: “One Piece Effect”
You walk past the table and notice a plate of cookies. You stop and think, “Why not?” At this point, the “one piece effect” is triggered. You break off a small piece first, then take a whole cookie, then another one … And stop only when there are only crumbs on the plate. Are you wondering how this could happen?
“Once you take the first step down the dark path, you can’t turn back,” said Jedi Master Yoda from the Star Wars movie. Don’t underestimate the power of temptation. The slightest slack can give a hole in our willpower. This effect applies to everything we forgo for the sake of self-improvement – from computer games and shopping to alcohol and nicotine.
These three reasons are responsible for most of the situations in which we lose our heads and forget about our commitments. It’s hard to resist temptation. But knowing our weaknesses can help us keep them under control.
The material is prepared on the basis psychologist Ellen Hendriksen on the Quickanddirtytips.com blog.