cover of episode #284 ‒ Overcoming addictive behaviors, elevating wellbeing, thriving in an era of excess, and the scarcity loop | Michael Easter, M.A.

#284 ‒ Overcoming addictive behaviors, elevating wellbeing, thriving in an era of excess, and the scarcity loop | Michael Easter, M.A.

2024/1/8
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Michael Easter: 本书探讨了人类进化背景下资源稀缺对现代人身心健康的影响，提出了“稀缺循环”的概念，并提供了摆脱这种循环的实用策略。疫情期间人们囤积物资的行为体现了人们在资源稀缺时的本能反应，而疫情的长期化导致了各种有害行为的增加，例如酗酒、吸毒、过度消费和体重增加。奇马内部落的饮食习惯虽然看似违反各种流行饮食法，但其食物都只有一种成分，避免了超加工食品的摄入，这可能是他们避免疾病的关键。一项研究表明，食用超加工食品会导致人们每天摄入更多卡路里，并导致体重增加，而食用低加工食品则会减少卡路里摄入并导致体重下降。“稀缺循环”包括三个部分：机会、不可预测的奖励和快速可重复性。这种机制可以解释许多看似非理性的行为，例如赌博、沉迷社交媒体和网络购物。通过控制环境，使奖励可预测，可以帮助人们打破这种循环。在伊拉克的毒品问题研究中，作者发现，不稳定的社会环境和易获得的毒品是导致成瘾的主要因素。作者还探讨了人类对物质财富的渴望，以及现代社会物质过剩对人们幸福感的影响。无聊是人类进化过程中的一种不适感，它促使人们去探索和寻找新的活动。现代社会中，人们很容易通过手机、电视等方式逃避无聊，这导致了人们过度消费和沉迷于各种刺激。作者建议人们尝试重新体验世界，去探索未知，并从不舒适的活动中获得满足感。作者还探讨了幸福感的定义，以及现代社会中人们幸福感下降的原因。作者认为，幸福感并非单纯的快乐，而是由享受、满足感和目标感等多种因素构成的。通过与新墨西哥州的本笃会僧侣生活一周，作者发现，艰苦的生活和奉献精神可以带来更高的幸福感。作者认为，为更大的目标而努力，并为他人服务，是获得幸福感的重要途径。 Peter Attia: 现代食物环境的特点是美味、高热量、不易腐烂且便携，价格低廉，但并不健康。全球范围内，营养过剩已经超过营养不良，成为主要的健康问题。现代食品加工技术提高了食品产量，降低了成本，让人们节省了大量时间，但同时也带来了肥胖和相关疾病的风险。奇马内部落的健康状况可能与其低压力生活、高活动量、良好的昼夜节律、充足睡眠以及不使用电子产品等因素有关。关于肥胖症成因的争论很多，包括食物的可获得性、食物的适口性以及各种宏量营养素等因素。作者在书中描述的单一成分饮食实验，虽然简单，但能有效控制卡路里摄入，并带来健康益处。赌博的机制与“稀缺循环”类似，通过机会、不可预测的奖励和快速可重复性来吸引人们参与。作者认为，人们对信息的渴望与对食物的渴望类似，过量摄入低质量信息会对身心健康造成损害。现代社会中，负面信息更容易吸引人们的注意力，这导致了社会极化和幸福感下降。作者建议人们尝试减少信息摄入，并从慢信息中获得更深层次的理解。作者认为，幸福感并非单纯的快乐，而是由享受、满足感和目标感等多种因素构成的。作者还探讨了孤独与寂寞的区别，以及在生活中寻找目标感和意义的重要性。

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Bestselling author Michael Easter returns to The Drive to discuss his new book, Scarcity Brain. In this episode, Michael explores the evolutionary backdrop that molded human beings, a setting characterized by scarce food, limited information, and few possessions. He contrasts that with the modern era, marked by abundance and comfort, and the ensuing repercussions on our physical and mental well-being. Michael introduces the concept of the “scarcity loop,” a three-part behavior cycle which helps explain modern challenges such as overeating, addiction, gambling, and materialism, and offers practical strategies to break free from its cycle. The episode culminates in a thought-provoking exploration of happiness, drawing on Michael's experiences with monks and underscoring the value of boredom, exploration, and discomfort as transformative elements that elevate awareness, presence, and the will to live.

We discuss:

  • Inspiration for Michael’s latest book, Scarcity Brain [2:15];
  • Evolutionary adaptations to the scarcity of food contrasted with the modern obesity crisis [4:00];
  • Lessons learned about diet and nutrition from living with hunter-gatherers [9:30];
  • The impact of ultra-processed foods on energy balance [20:30];
  • Michael’s experience with attempting the hunter-gatherer diet at home [27:30];
  • The roots of excess: factors that contribute to overeating and the varied vulnerabilities among individuals [34:00];
  • The scarcity loop: how components of the scarcity loop are illustrated in gambling and addiction [39:45];
  • Using knowledge of the scarcity loop to break the cycle [50:45];
  • The evolutionary drive to acquire material possessions [58:15];
  • The benefits of boredom and value of exploration [1:07:00];
  • The consequences of an attention economy driven by negativity bias [1:16:30];
  • Navigating the world of endless information and the value in “slow information” [1:23:00];
  • Defining happiness, and the downward trend in reports of happiness [1:33:00];
  • Purpose, austerity, self-reliance and other missing elements of happiness gleaned from the study of monks [1:38:30];
  • The value in uncomfortable activities that increase your awareness, presence, and will to live [1:48:45]; and
  • More.

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