Thought for a bit this morning about how I would respond to Ayn Rand type claims that altruism goes against human nature, that it is only the rules of a tyrannical society trying to force us to behave training us to be good to others. Didn't take too long before I remembered altruism releases dopamine, demonstrating it comes from evolution not social pressure. Will be near someone soon that I want some responses in my pocket, this sound good to y'all?
@tippitiwichet religious fervor, drug addiction, sex, and any form of pleasure or thought of pleasure releases dopamine...seems like a lot of "bad" things release the pleasure chemical and stimulate the same brain region.
@Victor Yes, but those responses are also rooted in evolution, not social pressures. I don't get dopamine hits from putting on a flowery dress, but I do from alcohol, which is due to the brain thinking "fruit" but also indicates I like beer for evolutionary reasons, not overwhelming social pressure.
@Victor Okay, but I didn't really bring that up. I was discussing the non-addictive response, as a quick example of something I know has an evolutionary link. That's interesting, though.
@tippitiwichet interesting that you bring up alcohol addiction. There's a hypothesis that puts forward the idea that your gut's bacteria send signals to the brain that promote addiction behaviors. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00667-8#:~:text=Researchers%20including%20Day%20suggest%20that,target%20for%20people%20with%20AUD.