Un-Hack Your Brain!

One of my favorite books this year was Dr. Robert Lustig’s The Hacking of the American Mind.  Reading it is the nonfiction equivalent of sitting in Mister Toad’s Wild Ride: you feel yourself swerving from biochemistry, through history, culture, and law, until finally landing on a dizzying quasi-conspiracy theory that explains why Americans are so depressed,  overweight, addicted, and unhappy.  It’s crackin’ good fun!

In the first part, Lustig works to define happiness.  Specifically, he wants to differentiate two facets: contentment and pleasure.  Thousands of years ago, Aristotle separated  eudaimonia — long-term contentment and well-being — from hedonia — temporary pleasure.  Lustig brings these definitions into the 21^st century using the MRI scans and neurochemistry. 

He explains that pleasure (a new pair of jeans, a video game, a cup of coffee, a glass of wine), is associated with the production of dopamine, the so-called “seeking reward chemical” in the brain. Meanwhile, contentment (finishing a marathon, seeing your kid graduate college, spending time with family) is associated with the production of serotonin.  He argues that contentment, while harder to come by, is really what we’re all seeking in life.  “Pleasure (reward) is the emotional state where your brain says, This feels good—I want more, while happiness (contentment) is the emotional state where your brain says, This feels good—I don’t want or need any more.”

One of America's few DUI-themed amusement park rides.

Thing is, we can’t buy contentment.  Contentment must be earned with our efforts and through our relationships.  We can, however, buy pleasure — bigger houses, faster cars, better clothes, more expensive wines…  These quick fixes of pleasure, however, take our eyes off the ball of contentment, and actually stand in the way of finding happiness in the long run. 

This is where the conspiracy theory comes in: through advertising, industry promises us contentment (think of Coke’s “Open Happiness” campaign  or those Lexus ads that invoke all the joys of Christmas), while actually selling us pleasure.  They deliberately conflate the two for the sake of their bottom line.  Social media promises friendship and connection, though brain scans show that users experience pleasure, not contentment when they use it.  Lustig believes that “Wall Street, Madison Avenue, Las Vegas, and Silicon Valley have gotten inside our heads, exploiting this newly discovered brain chemistry, while Congress and the Supreme Court have codified their actions. Our behaviors are not our own, because our minds have been ‘hacked’.”

Controversial?  You bet.  A little “out there?” Absolutely.  But as I say, it’s a fun ride.  Fortunately, Lustig also offers some ideas on how we can wrest control from the Powers that Be and tip the scales back toward happiness in our own lives.  Specifically, he suggests four C’s:

Connect with others. Work with people, play with people, pray with people...  Whatever floats your boat.  But here’s the catch: it has to be face-to-face.  Online “friendships” don’t have the same benefits as real-life connections do.

Contribute to something larger than yourself.  Give money and time to charity.  Work for a cause you believe in.

Cope with stress.  Sleep and exercise are some of the best ways to do this.  It also helps if you can cut down on stressors in the first place.

Cook your own meals.  This will get you off the dopamine hamster wheel of highly-processed foods. You’ll also get more nutrients, which will help you feel better and healthier.  

Lustig’s theories get a bit far-fetched at times, but his solutions are pretty down-to-earth and reasonable.  I know that when I exercise in the morning, I feel better able to tackle the work day. When I work out with my rowing buddies, I enjoy it even more.  (My sister-in-law Pawee works out with a team of gals at her gym, and for every workout there’s a donation to a worthy cause.  All they’d have to do is add a potluck, and they’ve got all four!)  

There’s a terrific infographic with a bit more detail here.   Check it against your own experience, and see if your own mind might do with some un-hacking.

Note: The ramblings published on this blog are the opinions of the author alone and shared for entertainment purposes only.  The author is an English major with no medical or scientific background; thus, his words should never be taken as medical advice.  Consult with your doctor or medical professional before undertaking any diet or exercise program.