40 pages • 1 hour read
Adam AlterIrresistible
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Short-Term Benefits Versus Long-Term Harm
Alter defines addiction as an attachment that soothes a psychological need in the short-term but is ultimately damaging in the long-run. This pattern of engagement is evident in many examples spanning both substance and behavioral addictions. In Chapter 1, John Pemberton used cocaine to alleviate his addiction to morphine. At first, cocaine seemed to relieve him, but over the course of months and years, Pemberton’s health declined and it became obvious that cocaine was more detrimental than beneficial. Similarly, young people like Vaisberg might turn to video games to meet their needs for social interaction. In the short-term, this need seems to be met through online engagement, but over the long-term, people like Vaisberg are stunting their ability to have healthy offline relationships. In the end, Alter implies that one might distinguish healthy behavior from addictive behavior by this metric. If the behavior superficially addresses a psychological need without fulfilling or nourishing that need, then over time it will reveal itself to be addictive and harmful and should be replaced by a more substantial behavior that is more supportive.
Focusing on Intrinsic Rewards Instead of Extrinsic Rewards
In Chapter 4, Alter makes the case that a healthy alternative to goal-setting is to live one’s life according to systems. As Alter states, “a system is ‘something you do on a regular basis that increases your odds of happiness in the long run’” (117). For example, a painter might paint every day, while an athlete might play a sport every day. In these cases, it is crucial that a person paint or play a sport simply because they enjoy the activity of it, not because they hope to ultimately achieve a goal. The activity is its own reward; the motivation for doing it is intrinsic. By contrast, extrinsic rewards work by focusing a person’s attention on something outside the task itself, such as a long-term goal. In a work setting, this might be a high salary, a promotion, or prestige, while in a video game, this might be a badge indicating high status or the desire to simply beat a game. Extrinsic rewards can be dangerous because they move one’s attention away from the work or activity itself. In running and exercising, a failure to focus on one’s body can lead to permanent injury, while a disassociation with one’s work can lead to unhappiness and endless, pointless goal pursuit.
This theme appears in different forms throughout Irresistible. Alter cites an op-ed published in the New York Times in 2014, in which a Wall Street trader suggests that most of his peers were motivated by social comparison, rather than a deep connection with their work. That is, the trader’s colleagues were primarily motivated by extrinsic rather than intrinsic rewards because they were not in tune with themselves and their work in the first place. As Alter says, “You don’t need to keep score with money if you’re truly, deeply motivated by what you’re doing. Goals function as placeholders that propel you forward when the daily systems that run your life are no longer fulfilling” (119). In Chapter 12, on “Gamification,” Alter cites many examples of organizations that have increased productivity simply by making the task of work enjoyable. In these examples and elsewhere throughout the book, Alter argues that one of the strongest antidotes to behavioral addiction is to find activities that are intrinsically motivating and rewarding, rather than activities that promise only extrinsic benefits such as points, money, or status.
Moderation Instead of Abstinence as a Solution to Behavioral Addiction
It would be easy to promote complete abstinence from technology as a solution to its addictiveness. Some organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend this approach when it comes to infants’ exposure to screens. The AAP declares, “Television and other entertainment media should be avoided for infants and children under age 2” (245), but Alter makes the case that this is not a realistic solution for most parents and children in today’s world. Because gadgets, devices, tablets, phones, and screens are abundant, Alter believes it is highly unlikely that a child would avoid contact with entertainment media altogether. Considering this dilemma, Alter proposes conscientious and intelligent media consumption, as outlined by an organization called Zero to Three, rather than complete avoidance. He says, “Zero to Three takes a softer approach than the AAP, acknowledging that some screen time is all but inevitable. Rather than banning screens outright, Zero to Three recommends specific kinds of screen time” (246). In the conclusion of the book, Alter reiterates, “We can’t abandon technology, nor should we” (319). Technology is not good or bad in and of itself; what makes it good or bad is how it is used. Because technology is woven into the fabric of everyday life, the smartest approach to dealing with its addictive properties is to impose intelligent limits rather than unrealistically aim to do away with it.
