Dopamine: Not a happiness hormone – The truth behind motivation and addiction

Introduction

Dopamine – the ‘happiness hormone’? Think again! Science shows that dopamine is much more than just a messenger for joy.

Headlines claim that social media causes ‘dopamine addiction’ or that sugar works like cocaine. But what is the truth behind these statements? And why is an accurate understanding of dopamine so important for our mental health?

This article is about:

• What is dopamine really?

• Why do the media paint a false picture?

• How does dopamine affect motivation and addiction?

• What does this mean for how we deal with behaviours such as social media or gambling?

What is dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter – a chemical messenger in the brain.

It plays a role in:

• Motivation – pursuing goals.

• Learning – whether an outcome was better or worse than expected.

• Movement – motor functions (a lack of dopamine can lead to Parkinson's disease).

• Attention – concentration and decision-making.

The big misunderstanding

The media uncritically refer to dopamine as the ‘happy hormone’ everywhere. But dopamine does not create joy – if at all, it plays a role in anticipation of joy. Studies show that when gambling, dopamine levels rise before a possible win, not after. This increase motivates us to pursue a goal – not to enjoy it.

So how do these popular misunderstandings arise? Time to debunk the myths!

The biggest dopamine nonsense debunked

Myth #1: More dopamine = more happiness

Many believe that high dopamine levels automatically make you happier. Wrong!

• People with too much dopamine become impulsive or prone to addiction.

• Too little dopamine can cause depression and movement disorders like Parkinson's.

• Dopamine is not a happiness messenger, but an increase in dopamine enhances the feeling of meaning and urgency.

Myth #2: Dopamine causes addiction

Addiction does not only mean ‘high dopamine’. The mechanism is much more complex.

• Addiction is compulsion, not reward.

• Many addicts feel little pleasure from their substance – but continue to consume, under the compulsion to use.

• Dopamine creates cravings, not satisfaction. This is why the feeling of being trapped in a continuous loop arises.

Myth #3: Dopamine only reacts to rewards

Dopamine is not only associated with positive experiences – but also with fear.

• Studies show that war veterans show increased dopamine release when exposed to certain sounds reminiscent of trauma.

• Dopamine not only increases the desire for more, but also heightens our awareness of danger.

Myth #4: The media uses dopamine to sell sensational headlines

Headlines like ‘Social media is like cocaine’ distort the science.

• There is no scientific evidence to support the countless ‘dopamine hacks’ caused by social media.

• Self-proclaimed gurus regularly exaggerate and stir up fear – even of cupcakes.

• This misinformation negatively influences political debates on addiction and mental health.

What dopamine really does

Dopamine not only plays a role in the reward system, but also in:

• Anticipating outcomes – Helps to make predictions about consequences.

• Motivation to act – Drives us to pursue a goal.

• Habit formation – Strengthens both positive and negative behaviours.

• Attention control – Helps to focus attention.

Dopamine would then not be our ‘happiness switch’, but our driving force.

Conclusion

Dopamine is not a happiness hormone – it plays a role in motivation and behaviour control.

Neurotransmitters in the brain are released in a regulated manner, bind to receptors and are broken down so that the receptors are released again. No one becomes ‘addicted’ to neurotransmitters.

The better we understand dopamine, the more targeted we can be in improving mental health and addiction research. Don't let myths mislead you: dopamine doesn't make us ‘addicted’, but at most it drives us.

The realisation? We are not addicted to dopamine – we are driven by desire.