Love, Sex, Creativity, Politics – This dopamine is amazing!
Lieberman and Long’s book the Molecule of More, how a single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity and will Determine the Fate of humans be a very interesting book that I will surely keep on the very important reading materials. Dopamine “the pleasure molecule,” as dubbed by scientists in 1997 after Katheleen Montagu discovered it is a fantastic chemical that I didn’t know much about. The reason it was dubbed so pleasure “is exactly what people feel when dopamine is active in their brains.”[1] Wow, what a great title for an excellent book; this is a must-read! This was my thought and amazement when I saw the book’s title. I had heard of Dopamine but didn’t know much it was responsible for in my everyday life. I have chosen to share four intriguing ideas out of 8 in the blinkist.com summary.
The first idea I found intriguing is that Dopamine is behind our falling in and out of love. I have always wondered how the English language determined “falling in love” love is such a good thing, yet when we have fallen in love, it is never true love but must be a dopamine-induced kind of love. When the dopamine rush subsides, some people separate and move on to the next lover, while others fantasize about the thrill of a new romance. That’s because Dopamine always demands newer, shinier, better things. Indeed, there’s evidence that people with naturally high dopamine activity have more sexual partners. They are more likely to cheat and less likely to marry.[2] It is interesting when the narrators here describe the discovery of Dopamine, tests on rats prove that “dopamine activity was at its highest when animals received tasty food. Scientists named the parts of the brain involved in this reaction the dopamine reward circuit.”[3]
There is much more than appetite and delicious food or sexual arousal. Dopamine is the culprit behind much more. The second one is the effect of addictive drugs on Dopamine. “Drugs like alcohol, cocaine, and opioids make the dopamine desire circuit fire like no natural trigger ever could.” [4] This explains the challenges of drugs and opioid addiction that we see on the streets of our cities today. Since working with the Arizona Department of Corrections, I have had a new understanding of this challenge. “Governor Doug Ducey declared the epidemic a Public Health Emergency in 2017.”[5] As I speak to men who experience more rates of recidivism, it is clear that drugs became the common denominator causing some men to live in prison almost for life. In 2020, 93,331 people in the U.S. died from an opioid overdose, 1,982 Arizonans.136,720 opioid prescriptions were administered in Arizona within the last month. Arizona currently ranks 12th in the nation for misusing and abusing prescription drugs and has the 12th highest drug overdose mortality rate, with more than 20 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people.[6]
This third idea was more intriguing than others. Dopamine can produce creative genius or psychiatric disease – or both. Artists, musicians, and writers tend to have brains rich in Dopamine. This allows them to think in new, unconventional ways – and to come up with connections no one’s ever thought of before. But the creative power of Dopamine has a flip side. People can experience hallucinations, delusions, or mania when dopamine activity gets out of hand. This is common for people who live with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.[7] The stigma of mental health illness is much higher in East and Central Africa, where I lived before relocating to the United States two decades ago. The genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda has left the community with many challenges, including mental health. It is common to hide and stay locked away from the public instead of risking ridicule due to mental health challenges. Reading Lieberman’s great work, I can see some common mental health symptoms, yet I never knew exactly what it is. “People with schizophrenia are often convinced that they’re being followed or manipulated. How does Dopamine produce such fantastical beliefs?”[8] The fourth idea that I found intriguing is the influence of Dopamine on political beliefs! Our dopamine levels can influence our political beliefs. Liberals often seek novelty; they crave progress. These are both qualities linked to Dopamine. On the other hand, Conservatives tend to be more concerned with the present. They are practical and novelty-averse. These qualities are driven by here-and-now chemicals, which we discussed earlier. One finding in support of this connection is that liberalism is linked to a slightly higher IQ. In one study, people who described themselves as “very liberal” registered an average IQ score of 106. And people who identified as conservatives displayed an average IQ of 95.[9] The authors conclude with a great piece of advice that I found very crucial to all of us; this, I think, is what is lacking in most areas “The more active a person’s dopamine system, the more likely they are to be novelty-seeking, risk-taking, and curious. But too much Dopamine can stand in the way of our happiness. To live fully, we need to balance the future-oriented dopamine and the more present-oriented here-and-now brain chemicals. “[10]
[1] “Blinkist,” 2020, accessed January 13, 2023, https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/reader/the-molecule-of-more-en.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Androuw Carrasco, MD, “Understanding the Opioid Crisis in Arizona,” General Health, Wellness Now, January 26, 2022, accessed January 13, 2023, https://blog.valleywisehealth.org/understanding-the-opioid-crisis-in-arizona/#:~:text=136%2C720%20opioid%20prescriptions%20were%20administered,overdose%20deaths%20per%20100%2C000%20people.
[6] Ibid.
[7] “Blinkist.Com.”
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
About the Author
Jean de Dieu Ndahiriwe
Jean de Dieu Ndahiriwe is a Clinical Correctional Chaplain and former Child Refugee from War-torn Rwanda. A member of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, Jean is passionate about Servant Leadership and looks forward to seeing more leaders that inspire Lasting Peace and Justice for all, especially "the least of these".11 responses to “Love, Sex, Creativity, Politics – This dopamine is amazing!”
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Hello Jean!
What a great summary of the book! You consumed it!
I am curious how this has impacted you personally:
“This explains the challenges of drugs and opioid addiction that we see on the streets of our cities today. Since working with the Arizona Department of Corrections, I have had a new understanding of this challenge.”
I am curious how you have been able to come to the aide of those suffering with addiction? With those you work with, have you experienced men coming off drugs and staying of drugs?
Father, I pray for the men that Jean works with and I ask that you would provide freedom and salvation!
Kristy – Thank you so much for praying and for your question.
I wish I could testify of many more, but I haven’t seen that yet; however, I have a few encouraging testimonies; one former user is now a successful pastor and a great friend. A second one owns a drug rehab where he not only testifies of freedom but helps many others coming through recovery. Recovery and freedom from drug addiction is possible by God’s grace.
Jean, what a great summary and commentary on this book. I am fascinated by the research on politics and IQ. I have noticed this in my own circle of friends based on educational level. My friends with Master or Doctoral degrees for the most part arena the more liberal side. I wonder why that is. Any thoughts about how dopamine affects this?
Becca, thanks for the comment,
I was amazed and had no idea myself; the authors mentioned liberals are more progressive, and this craving for progress is dopamine driven. Conservatives, on the other hand, are more concerned with now. I wonder how many of us would agree!
Hi Jean,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am glad you incorporated your experience working in the Arizona Department of Corrections. How does this book inform your work and how you care for those who are incarcerated whether it be from drug-abuse or other reasons?
David – Thank for the comment my friend. The book encourages me to learn more about these addictions in order to provide better and more informed solutions.
Hi Jean
I found the connection between artist and mental health a fascinating effect of increased dopamine levels. You mentioned the stigma of mental health in Africa. I’m curious how artist or creatives are viewed in Central Africa? Also, are there similar treatment opportunities available to the ones in US?
Chad,
The difference between the US and big African cities is no longer big. Maybe deep down in rural areas is where things are very different. Those talented with skills and opportunities will live in big cities instead of villages.
I am glad that you touch on the mental health effects. My ears seem to perk up when mental health is mentioned. I wonder how mental health is handled for those that have not chosen to lock themselves away in your country? Thanks for sharing.
Shonell,
It is still a huge challenge to deal with. There has been a great deal of improvement in the last few years and with continuous advocacy, I am hopeful things will get better.
Jean,
I was excited to see how you brought in the discussion over the political section that the book discusses. I found it so interesting that the original study had to print a correction after they miss classified the information and how it seems to change everything and mean that they were wrong. Until the understanding of dopamine and the human response made it clear that the study had found something of value.