Study Reveals that Seeing Just the Facebook Logo Triggers the Same Hedonic Motivation as the Nicotine and Chocolate


Hedonic motivation is linked to the approach of a person towards pleasure or avoidance from the pain. It is the outcome of certain behaviors that result from esthetic or touching feelings. Our emotional incident can be considered as the measure that varies between good and bad. Naturally humans want to keep this measure as close to good as possible and far away from bad.

It is possible that most of the facebook users have an impulsive hedonic reaction which is well-built after using facebook for some time. It becomes a pleasuring habit then and this is why it is difficult for most of the people to resist the temptation to use facebook. Because of this desire to keep close to good, frequent users crave for instant pleasure of using facebook.


Facebook: Spontaneous Hedonic Reactions to Social Media Cues

A study published in April 2017 in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, entitled “Spontaneous Hedonic Reactions to Social Media Cues” examined the spontaneous hedonic reaction to facebook for 200 people using a hidden method of measuring affective reactions. The study was divided in two groups in which some people used facebook more frequently and the others used it less frequently.

The results confirmed that the group using facebook frequently than the second group i.e. the control group proved positive affective reactions to facebook. The response of the affective reactions of the control group was organized and controlled. The reason of the spontaneous hedonic reaction of frequent facebook users’ group was explained because of their self-reported desire to facebook. It might be difficult for this group to resist the temptation to use facebook.

The study also revealed that the growing availability of facebook, such as facebook app, can be the reason of enjoyment and provides a consistent delight. It helps to settle one’s mood and can stimulate psychologically. It can be a serious need of socializing or can be an easy way of passing time. 

 

The editor in publish, Brenda K. Wiederhold, says that the results of this study give the same impression as the preceding research on cues and cravings in foods and substances like chocolate and nicotine. “Understanding hedonic reactions to facebook and other social media can help us to expand more effective treatment and prevention protocols.”
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