Check Email and Social Media Obsessively? It’s Basic Biology | Tim Wu | Big Think

TL;DR

The urge to check email and social media is akin to operant conditioning with unpredictable rewards, making it addictive.

Transcript

You know one of the most important chapters in establishing our present existence so to speak, our present media existence was the realization of the power of the check-in. That is that urge, maybe you’ve felt it, I’ve got to check my email or maybe I should see what’s going on in my Twitter stream or it’s time to go to Facebook. That’s kind of an ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💌 The urge to check email and social media stems from an addictive need for unpredictable rewards.
• ✅ Operant conditioning theory applies to the behavior of constantly checking in for potential rewards.
• 💌 Unpredictable reward schemes in email and social media keep users engaged and addicted.
• ✅ The behavior of checking in reflects a biological desire for rewards and stimuli.
• 💌 Users are like pigeons seeking rewards when checking email and social media.
• 🪛 The addictive nature of checking in is driven by the allure of unpredictable rewards.
• 💌 Skinner's theories on operant conditioning are evident in the behavior of checking email and social media.

Questions & Answers

Q: When did the concept of the check-in originate?

The concept of the check-in originated in the 1970s with email, with the first email addict being Stephen Lukasik, the head of the ARPA agency.

Q: How does the psychology behind the check-in relate to operant conditioning?

The psychology behind the check-in mirrors operant conditioning, where the unpredictable rewards in email and social media keep users engaged and addicted.

Q: Why are unpredictable reward schemes more addictive?

Unpredictable rewards, like those found in email and social media, are more addictive because they stimulate curiosity and engage users in constantly checking in for potential rewards.

Q: How does the behavior of checking in resemble Skinner's experiments with animals?

The behavior of checking in, seeking unpredictable rewards, resembles Skinner's experiments with animals like pigeons, who exhibit similar tendencies to peck for rewards.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The concept of the check-in, feeling the need to check email or social media, originated in the 1970s with email.

• Checking in creates an addictive behavior similar to B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning theory.

• Unpredictable rewards in email and social media keep users engaged and addicted to checking in.