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Genetic Reason for Your Gadget Habit

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the well-lookie-there dept.

You can't help it if you need to get the latest gadgets. Well... perhaps it's not quite such a serious medical affliction, but scientists have found a genetic basis for some folks' burning desire to have the latest and greatest. There's even a name for it - neophilia. Apparently, some of us have elevated levels of a cellular enzyme, monoamine oxidase A, and are more in need of stimulation from new things.

8 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. The culture of victimhood by DerekLyons · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So now geeks join the culture of victimhood - "it's not my fault, its my [genes|society|enviroment]!". Congratulations on finally joining the mainstream!

    1. Re:The culture of victimhood by wwest4 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Maybe there's a name to describe predictable knee-jerk reactions.

      Tell me, does your concept of free will allow for constraints? If not, I challenge you to breathe water. And I don't want to hear any crap about how your genetics predispose you to breathing air.

  2. ADD of the new millennium by milamber3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Before it was, tell all the parents their child has ADD/ADHD and that's why he/she wont sit still or pay attention in class. Now doctors will be saying that the kids need all this new stuff and throw temper tantrums because of their genetically elevated monoamine oxidase A and not that they are spoiled/greedy/etc.

    1. Re:ADD of the new millennium by rtobyr · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Perhaps it works the other way around. Children who are spoiled and greedy DEVELOP elevated levels of monoamine oxidase A as a result.

    2. Re:ADD of the new millennium by milamber3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Very possible, I could see constantly exposing a developing brain to every new (toy, gadget, thing) might cause changes similar to that seen in drug addicts. There would be elevated MAO to get rid of the excess dopamine which was being released and then when the stimulation of new toys was cut off a resulting excessive down regulation of dopamine would cause some type of withdraw symptoms. This is somewhat of a strech, just as being addicted to video games and the internet is a strech, still its plausable.

    3. Re:ADD of the new millennium by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Whatever the reason, they're going to need lots and lots of very expensive, and very patented anti-monoamine oxidase A to make them fit in at school.

      --
      May the Maths Be with you!
  3. Not a flaw, a feature, really by Bullfish · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is a good thing and is part of all of our natures. Without it, we would never have left the caves, invented the spiky club, fire, beer or the refrigerator (in which you keep your beer).

  4. Re:Grow out of it by 93,000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have the same feelings, and I think it's mainly a matter of realizing the whole 'perceived reward vs. actual reward'. I used to always long for gadgets, etc, just KNOWING that they would make my life great and imagining how cool/happy/satisfied I'd be if I only had one. Whatever the item is, no matter how great, it's never what I build it up to be in my head. The high of having this new shiny thing wears off in about a day -- the credit card balance sticks around quite a bit longer to rub it in.

    After having this happen a time or four, I've started really questioning what a product will bring me. For example, I've been really wanting to get an iPod to replace my $15 diskman that plays mp3 cds.

    The Perception: said iPod would be new and shinny and cute and hip and hold 20,000 songs and I'd have it with me all the time and it would vastly improve my life.

    The Reality: I'd only wear it to mow my fucking lawn, just like I do now with the diskman.

    I think I just saved about $300.

    --
    Sweet informative mod.