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It's pretty important to split out addictions from habits/tendencies/routines. I'm not convinced checking HN several times a day develops the same physiological

It's pretty important to split out addictions from habits/tendencies/routines. I'm not convinced checking HN several times a day develops the same physiological changes that say alcohol or nicotine do. We like to say we're "totally addicted to X" for things in which we over-indulge as a defense for the behaviour, but this is not the clinical definition of addiction. If I cut off your access to porn or video games or shop lifting it might be unpleasant but is very different than a meth-addict going cold turkey experiences.

apercu 6y ago
"addicted to checking sites like HN" But if we look at the physiology social media sites and the such are triggering your brain in the same way. And if you cold turkey stop all of those things you are addicted to, you will have an adjustment period. And it could significantly affect you. Sure, it won't kill you like someone withdrawing from a physical addiction to alcohol might, to make you feel like you are dying like an opiate withdrawal, but lets not kid ourselves, the online systems OP and you refer to are designed to be addictive.
- engineeringwoke 6y ago
  Doesn't every pleasurable thing you do trigger your brain in this way? There has to be a gray area in between ascetic and addict.
  - apercu 6y ago
    True, but there are billions of dollars at stake to make you addicted to social media sites, games, etc.
tonyarkles 6y ago
This is an ongoing debate that comes up from time-to-time, and I think it’s a nuance that both has merit but also potentially detracts from the efforts of people who want to change. Most commonly I’ve heard it come up in the context of “sex addiction” or “porn addiction”. For me, I’m on the side of “compulsive behaviours that have a negative effect on your life, and yet you continue to do them consistently” is the definition of “practical addiction” for me, and the “negative effect” part is critical, not the distinction between “chemical/physiological” and “psychological”. Does the person who spends 6 hours/day refreshing HN have an addiction? Maybe, maybe not! Are they underperforming at work because they can’t stop themselves? Maybe it is a problem they should get help addressing. Does someone who must take an anti-depressant every day, lest they go into withdrawal, have an addiction? Probably not, even though they’re chemically dependent on it, it likely makes their life better not worse. For me, the mechanism of action matters significantly less than the effects and outcomes when you define addiction.

apercu 6y ago

"addicted to checking sites like HN" But if we look at the physiology social media sites and the such are triggering your brain in the same way. And if you cold turkey stop all of those things you are addicted to, you will have an adjustment period. And it could significantly affect you. Sure, it won't kill you like someone withdrawing from a physical addiction to alcohol might, to make you feel like you are dying like an opiate withdrawal, but lets not kid ourselves, the online systems OP and you refer to are designed to be addictive.

engineeringwoke 6y ago
Doesn't every pleasurable thing you do trigger your brain in this way? There has to be a gray area in between ascetic and addict.
- apercu 6y ago
  True, but there are billions of dollars at stake to make you addicted to social media sites, games, etc.

tonyarkles 6y ago

This is an ongoing debate that comes up from time-to-time, and I think it’s a nuance that both has merit but also potentially detracts from the efforts of people who want to change. Most commonly I’ve heard it come up in the context of “sex addiction” or “porn addiction”. For me, I’m on the side of “compulsive behaviours that have a negative effect on your life, and yet you continue to do them consistently” is the definition of “practical addiction” for me, and the “negative effect” part is critical, not the distinction between “chemical/physiological” and “psychological”. Does the person who spends 6 hours/day refreshing HN have an addiction? Maybe, maybe not! Are they underperforming at work because they can’t stop themselves? Maybe it is a problem they should get help addressing. Does someone who must take an anti-depressant every day, lest they go into withdrawal, have an addiction? Probably not, even though they’re chemically dependent on it, it likely makes their life better not worse. For me, the mechanism of action matters significantly less than the effects and outcomes when you define addiction.