Lord777
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We are susceptible to momentary pleasures, because our reinforcement system does not know how to respond to future benefits. Its original purpose was food, so we still vividly respond to the smell and type of delicious food. When we choose between immediate and future benefits, the brain processes these two possibilities differently.
When the reinforcement mechanism was being formed, the distant reward had nothing to do with day-to-day survival. The brain should be interested in a close reward, for example, a fruit, for the sake of which it is enough to climb a tree or cross a river. But what about the benefits for which you have to work for 5,10,12 years? In ancient times, there were no Olympic medals and retirement accounts, and therefore such a delay in pleasure was unthinkable. You can still save it for tomorrow. But for 10,000 tomorrow - no longer.
Kelly McGonigal
"Strength of will. How to develop and strengthen"
When the reinforcement mechanism was being formed, the distant reward had nothing to do with day-to-day survival. The brain should be interested in a close reward, for example, a fruit, for the sake of which it is enough to climb a tree or cross a river. But what about the benefits for which you have to work for 5,10,12 years? In ancient times, there were no Olympic medals and retirement accounts, and therefore such a delay in pleasure was unthinkable. You can still save it for tomorrow. But for 10,000 tomorrow - no longer.
Kelly McGonigal
"Strength of will. How to develop and strengthen"
