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The Psychology Podcast

Finding Balance In The Age of Indulgence w/ Dr. Anna Lembke

Jan 16, 2025
Dr. Anna Lembke, a Stanford psychiatrist and addiction expert, explores the complexities of dopamine and its vital role in motivation and addiction. She discusses how to reset the dopamine system to reclaim personal control and transform desires into meaningful rewards. The conversation highlights the intricate relationship between pleasure and pain, and how modern habits can lead to compulsive behaviors. Lembke also emphasizes the importance of therapy for personal growth and understanding addiction, advocating for a balance of self-discipline and genuine connections.
55:19

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • Dopamine functions as both a motivator and a mediator of pleasure, influencing our pursuit of rewards and shaping our behaviors.
  • Understanding individual differences in dopamine processing is crucial for addressing addiction and tailoring interventions effectively.

Deep dives

Understanding Dopamine's Role

Dopamine is a crucial neurotransmitter that regulates our approach to rewards and motivates behavior. It signals what we should pursue or avoid, serving as a survival mechanism that influences our interactions with our environment. While often referred to as a pleasure molecule, dopamine is more accurately linked to the desire for experiences, impacting how we approach challenges and rewards. A nuanced understanding of dopamine reveals how its fluctuations affect our motivations, and how different stimuli can provoke varied responses in different people.

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