Part notes part paper I wrote in school...

I'm trying to redo it. The premise is still going to remain consistent, however facets and details need a deeper dive and an accurate explanation of exactly what is happening with the neurons specifically. (I might need to re-add a few concepts)

#psychology #neuroscience #socialmedia

For several years I have explored conditioning paradigms, encompassing classical and operant methodologies, a profound connection emerges with the manifestations of mental and cognitive disorders, especially within the pervasive influence of social media. The amalgamation of knowledge through learned associations and the reinforcement of behaviors inherent in conditioning serves as a trigger for disorders such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit disorders. I feel I have barely scratched the surface of the mechanics of conditioning, unraveling its impact on the neurological landscape, and I have found several compelling cases for the induction of these disorders through conditioning processes.

Revealing Emotional Vulnerability

Drawing inspiration from Pavlov's insights, classical conditioning intertwines neutral stimuli with emotionally charged events. This process establishes a foundation for heightened emotional vulnerability. The fusion of neutral stimuli with traumatic experiences initiates amplified conditioned responses, paving the way for emotional upheaval. This emotional susceptibility, sculpted by classical conditioning, acts as a precursor to various disorders, including bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.

Reinforcing Maladaptive Patterns

As delineated by Skinner, operant conditioning revolves around reinforcing or punishing behaviors based on consequences. In the case of social media, specific behaviors linked to seeking attention or conformity receive reinforcement through likes, shares, and comments. This reinforcement becomes a catalyst, nurturing maladaptive patterns that escalate and contribute to the emergence of disorders such as attention deficit disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders, to say the least. The constant exposure to stimuli and the reinforcement of specific behaviors reshape neural pathways, resulting in cognitive and behavioral dysregulation.

Unraveling Reality

Psychosis, a severe mental disorder, denotes a state where an individual experiences a detachment from reality. The induction of psychosis through conditioning mechanisms involves a complex interplay of learned associations and distorted perceptions, which can also be brought upon by gaslighting. Classical conditioning, particularly, contributes to the development of delusions and hallucinations by associating neutral stimuli with altered cognitive states. The brain, influenced by these learned associations, undergoes a shift in neural activity, leading to the manifestation of psychotic symptoms.

Neurological Aspects

Bipolar disorder, characterized by extreme mood swings, and attention deficit disorders, marked by impulsivity and inattention, find influence in conditioning processes. Operant conditioning, especially in the context of social media rewards and stimuli, contributes to reinforcing behaviors associated with mood instability and attention deficits. Neurologically, these disorders involve dysregulation in neurotransmitter systems, including dopamine and serotonin, influenced by the learned associations and patterns ingrained through conditioning.

The notion at hand captivates my interest deeply. I wholeheartedly concur with the perspective previously articulated. The analogy drawn here is likening to a descent to the basal regions of the brainstem, stimulating the primal brain associated with drive, instinct, and survival; It is profound. By circumventing the prefrontal cortex, it facilitates the erosion of self-control, memory, problem-solving, critical thinking, and judgment.

It is my contention that individuals behind social media algorithms are not oblivious to the detrimental consequences they unleash. They employ analogous marketing methodologies utilized since the era of Barnum and Bailey. Those entering into these fields often delve into psychology, behavioral analysis, sociology, and neurology, albeit perhaps only in introductory courses and capacities not stretching beyond the basics. Understanding one's target is prudent for effective engagement. This is how marketing works, ultimately.

Monetization strategies vary, ranging from pay-per-click models to income derived from traffic volume or user engagement duration. Popularity begets perceived value, a coveted objective for attracting investors and advertisers. Intriguingly, the consumer paradoxically becomes the product. Personal data is commodified, analyzed, and repackaged. Inevitably, on the surface this is creating a dynamic that fosters an imaginary competition among users, compelling them to present an augmented version of themselves. The artificial reality of online existence, complete with filters and AI generations, gives rise to a contemporary Narcissus effect. The concepts of familiarity and mirroring then weave themselves into the fabric of the altered perception of attractiveness. This is evident not only in personal branding, as in the choices of makeup styles or the nuances of AI-generated content, but also company branding. This is where the breakdown of reality ultimately begins.

Certain applications employ a streak mechanism, displaying consecutive interaction days as a reward, fostering user addiction. And thusly reinforcing that social media is, in fact, a type of competition (or game). I dissent from this approach for many reasons, one primarily being due to its propensity to encourage users to be lax with their information security. Constant data visibility breeds anxiety, as users become acutely aware of it, fueling a perpetual cycle. In most cases users just roll with it and feel as if they have no choice.

The current generation, reared amidst the internet's ubiquity, seamlessly integrates technology into every facet of life. Parents, reminiscing about a screen-free era, may inadvertently overlook their own digital dependencies. The children in their formative years, crucial for brain development, witness the normalization of constant connectivity.

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Algorithms engineered to elicit emotional responses exploit the dopamine surge from likes, shares, views, and comments. The causation resembles a metaphorical roller coaster. Human behavior, reminiscent of Pavlovian conditioning, mirrors the process of training a dog. A simple action, when paired with a reward, ingrains a behavior. The experiment extends to mobile phones, inducing an instinctual response to incoming calls or notifications.

Instant gratification compounds this phenomenon, with swift access breeding dependency.

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Notably, even negative stimuli, such as drama or 'doom scrolling,' trigger addictive responses. This is where the roller coaster begins to go off the rails.

The spiral into negativity on social media, driven by an obligation to respond to others' hardships, forms a self-perpetuating cycle. Users seeking sympathy and support, inadvertently cultivate a feedback loop of negativity. Users seeking to aid others fall into the same trap. Attempts to counteract this with positive content merely tweak the cycle without breaking it, creating a layered newsfeed cycle. This is when the roller coaster is destined to crash.

The swift alternation between positive and negative news, stacked in succession, exerts a profound impact on the cognitive processes. It parallels the experience of undergoing intense mood swings, akin to the fluctuations observed in bipolar states. In doing so, neural pathways undergo rewiring, forming a discernible pattern. The brain acclimates to the rapid oscillation between happiness, sadness,anger, and so on, creating a habitual response of these emotional shifts.

The impact on the prefrontal cortex is as pivotal as on the primal brain. Social media, I posit, can exacerbate or induce symptoms associated with various mental disorders, owing to its effect on the frontal lobe. Adaptation to constant distractions further complicates this intricate relationship.

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