Re: draft abstract Sex, Drugs and Cults

From: Philip Jonkers (philipjonkers@prodigy.net)
Date: Tue Feb 19 2002 - 00:15:10 GMT

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From: "Philip Jonkers" <philipjonkers@prodigy.net>
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Subject: Re: draft abstract Sex, Drugs and Cults
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 15:15:10 -0900
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    Philip:
    > > >That religion and cults can be as addictive as drugs I sussed last year
    > > >after
    > > >reading chapter 14 of the Meme-Machine. It was Marx who said that
    > > >`religion is opium for the people'. Last year I posted an hypothesis on
    > this
    > > >list
    > > >stating that cultural behavior (processing memes) has to be rewarded by
    > the
    > > >brain
    > > >because it originally chances of survival. Consequently culture
    actually
    > > >evolves actually through the grace of our spoiled reward-centers
    (spoiled
    > > >because they
    > > >have to reward biological activity (sex, feeding, fleeing etc.) as well
    > as
    > > >cultural).
    > > >A downside of having such an active reward center is that it makes us
    > > >prone to develop addictive behavior, be it sex, drugs, alcohol,
    gambling,
    > > >eating,
    > > >not eating (boulimia, anorexia).

    Frankie:
    > > Here's an article linking social status, dopamine and drug addiction.
    > > It implies (at least to me) that the best way to prevent addiction
    > > (of any form) may be social in nature.
    > >
    > > http://www.sciencenews.org/20020126/fob5.asp

    Interesting article... thanks Frankie.

    Philip.

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