Language
Country/Area
No result found
Want to know how a lack of pleasure affects motivation? Explore the difference between 'craving' and 'enjoyment'!
Anhedonia, a symptom that not only prevents an individual from experiencing happiness, but also includes a reduction in motivation, making it difficult to be interested in previously enjoyed activities. According to the latest mental health research, the impact of happiness deprivation cannot be underestimated, especially in patients with depression and mental illness. To understand how a lack of pleasure affects our lives, especially motivation, we must first explore the difference between craving and enjoyment.
Background and definition
Anhedonia was first proposed by French psychologist Théodule-Armand Ribot in 1896. The definition at that time focused on the inability to experience happiness. As research continues, the definition of hedonic deficits has evolved to include decreased motivation, decreased expected pleasure (craving), and decreased pleasure (enjoyment).
"Desire" refers to the motivation for reward, whether it is positivity (motivation effect) or the emotion in anticipation of reward. "Enjoyment" is the feeling of happiness gained when consuming rewards.
Influencing factors
Many studies have shown that happiness loss may be related to dysfunction in specific areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, and ventral tegmental area. In these areas, dysregulation of certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, is thought to play a key role in the perception and motivation to obtain pleasure.
Anhedonia is described as "a diminished ability to obtain, experience, or learn pleasure, often without being fully aware of it."
The mental health impact of happiness loss
About 70% of patients with severe depression will experience a lack of happiness. For these patients, the lack of happiness directly affects their quality of life and is intertwined with depression, creating a vicious cycle. In addition, patients with schizophrenia often report experiencing a lack of pleasure and lack of motivation. These disorders may be closely linked to the pathological basis of mental illness.
The impact of lack of social happiness
In social situations, the presence of anhedonia may lead to social withdrawal and lead to the deterioration of interpersonal relationships. For example, individuals with a lack of social happiness often lack interest in communicating with others and show indifference to social interactions. This makes it harder for them to find fun or satisfaction in social settings.
Treatment and response
There is currently no specific standardized treatment for anhedonia. Current treatments focus on improving overall mental health and supporting social interactions, which may improve an individual's happiness and motivation. In addition, regarding the gender difference in happiness deficiency, the study found that men scored higher on socialist phenomena, and this trend continued from adolescence to adulthood, showing the important influence of gender on mental health.
"An absence of social pleasure is an important indicator of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses."
Conclusion
The distinction between craving and enjoyment reveals the profound impact that the absence of pleasure has on personal motivation. Understanding these concepts can not only help us recognize our own emotional status, but also better understand the psychological feelings of those around us. When faced with a lack of happiness, we should reflect on: What exactly drives our motivations, and how does this affect our lives?
