{"id":29900,"date":"2023-01-09T10:22:02","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T18:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=29900"},"modified":"2023-01-09T12:18:01","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T20:18:01","slug":"what-was-missing-in-the-molecule-of-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/what-was-missing-in-the-molecule-of-more\/","title":{"rendered":"What is missing in The Molecule of More?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Daniel Lieberman\u2019s book <\/span>The Molecule of More<\/span><\/i>, the power of dopamine is described, particularly how it affects the human brain and human behavior. Lieberman does an incredible job at providing his readers with research on how adults respond to dopamine. He defines dopamine as \u201cthe pleasure of anticipation\u2013 the possibility of something unfamiliar and better.\u201d<\/span> [1]<\/span> He cites several studies on adolescents and their developing brains. I will summarize some of this research on adolescents in this blog as these are the youngest examples which Lieberman highlights. It was interesting to note that Lieberman did not address how dopamine operates in the brain of an infant. This is a great omission to this book, but it is understandable that an author needs to stay within a given scope of material. Bessel Van Der Kolk, in his book <\/span>The Body Keeps the Score,<\/span><\/i> addresses issues related to an infant\u2019s brain development. I will also highlight some of Van Der Kolk\u2019s findings to supplement this information which is missing from Lieberman\u2019s work. How an infant\u2019s brain works provides a lasting map which a person refers to for their entire life. With much of the research indicating determined patterns of dopamine\u2019s processes in the brain, one might become discouraged and think change is impossible. Despite the research, the Bible presents an encouraging alternative, giving hope for how one might think and behave differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adolescent brains are a mystery. I recently was in Columbine, Colorado, and visited the memorial of the mass shooting in 1999. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to visit the memorial of the high schoolers who died. In the past 24 years there have been other mass shootings and these have been done by those who are older than the age of 25 but there is something unique about the Columbine shooting as it was one of the first in the schools. After being a school counselor for ten years, the mass shooting in 1999 has always been a mystery to me. How could two seventeen-year-olds conspire to kill fellow classmates? Lieberman\u2019s description of the adolescent brain may give some understanding:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdolescent brains have not yet fully developed, so adolescents may act like adults with brain damage. The biggest difference in the adolescent brains is in the frontal lobes, which don\u2019t completely develop until their early twenties. That\u2019s a problem because it\u2019s the frontal lobes that give adults good judgment. They act like a brake, warning us when we’re about to do something that might not be such a good idea.\u201d [2]<\/span><\/p>\n

The two adolescents who planned the mass shooting were known to play violent video games.\u00a0 The association of videogames and violence can not be directly made, but video games have an impact on how the brain works. \u201cVideo games are more complex than slot machines, so there are more opportunities for programmers to bake in features that trigger dopamine release to make it hard to stop playing. [3]\u00a0 Over the years I have worked with youth whose lives have been affected by video games. The primary problem I have experienced with these youth has been a lack of social skills and apathy towards schoolwork. I believe any activity which is pursued without notable time limits creates an imbalance in life and that is what youth are experiencing in their use of technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to adolescents who are impacted by video games, those with ADHD may struggle with obesity.\u00a0 [4]\u00a0 Lieberman cites a study of 700,000 children and adults who were 40-70% \u201cmore likely to be obese\u201d due to having ADHD. [5] He cites another study where girls with ADHD had gained weight due to short periods of binge eating. I appreciate Lieberman\u2019s perspective after sharing these various studies by stating that \u201cit is important to remember that biology is not destiny.\u201d. [6]\u00a0 My daughter has suffered from ADHD but is not obese. I believe she has a high metabolism, and she often forgets to eat. Her mind is taken with who she is engaging with socially and it is not as preoccupied with the pleasure of food. But I must mention, if you meet my daughter, she probably will ask you what your favorite ice cream flavor is because ice cream is one of the closest things associated with love for her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lieberman addresses several studies on adolescents\u2019 brains but does not mention studies of younger children. Infant\u2019s brains have an immeasurable impact on how an adult brain operates. Doctor Van Der Kolk describes the development of an infant with his or her caregiver as being \u201cemotional attunement.\u201d [7] Van Der Kolk describes infants having \u201cmirror neurons which start functioning as soon as babies are born.\u201c [8] This attunement and mirroring allows an infant to be \u2018in sync with their caregiver.\u201d\u00a0 There is an emotional and physical connection which is reflected in \u201chis sense of joy and connection in his steady heartbeat and breathing and a low level of stress hormone.\u201d [9] Over time an \u201cinternal locus of control is created, and this is the key factor in healthy coping throughout life.\u201d [10] Patterns of dopamine begin early. Lieberman may have not addressed brain development in infants, but it is thoroughly researched by others and complimentary to his work. I believe this is a missing piece in his research and spiritual considerations as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our destinies are only shaped in part by biology\u2013 there are stronger forces at play, having an impact on our minds which operate on dopamine. John Eldridge, in his book <\/span>Resilient<\/span><\/i>, encourages readers in a biblical mindset, stating: \u201cresilience is something that is bestowed, something imparted by God into our frail humanity.\u201d [11] For those who seek to have God in their lives, we can be encouraged that our impulsive thinking and urges do not have to take control.\u00a0 Look at the words in Daniel 10:17-19: \u201cMy strength is gone,\u2019 Daniel said, \u2018and I can hardly breathe.\u2019 Again, the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. \u2018Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,\u2019 he said. \u2018Peace! Be strong now; be strong.\u2019 When he spoke to me, I was strengthened.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 God can strengthen those who acknowledge God, being renewed in strength to make choices which are not ruled by what is quick and easy. \u201cThe beautiful resilience Jesus offers us comes from his resources; his endurance is <\/span>imparted<\/span><\/i> to us.”[12] Luke 21:19\u00a0 \u201cBy your endurance you will gain your lives.\u201d This resolve can come by \u201cnot conforming to the pattern of this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds\u201d Romans 12:1.\u00a0 We can be prone to addiction, always looking to what might satisfy us in the present, and this can take the shape of video gaming or impulsive eating. There is some hope in the care taking that humans receive as infants with initial care takers, and most importantly we have a God that we can look to in times of need and this help comes apart from anything that we do for ourselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[1] Lieberman, Daniel Z, Long, Michael E.,\u00a0 The Molecule of More, 2018, p.6<\/span><\/p>\n

[2 ]Ibid. p.54<\/span><\/p>\n

[3] Ibid. p.54<\/span><\/p>\n

[4]Ibid. Pp. 83,84<\/span><\/p>\n

[5] Ibid. p.82<\/span><\/p>\n

[6] Ibid.\u00a0 p.83<\/span><\/p>\n

[7] Van der Kolk, Bessel, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. 2014, p.113<\/span><\/p>\n

[8] Ibid. p.114<\/span><\/p>\n

[9] Ibid. p.114<\/span><\/p>\n

[10] Ibid. p.115<\/span><\/p>\n

[11] Eldridge, John, Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times, 2022, p.56<\/span><\/p>\n

[12] Ibid, p.56<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Daniel Lieberman\u2019s book The Molecule of More, the power of dopamine is described, particularly how it affects the human brain and human behavior. Lieberman does an incredible job at providing his readers with research on how adults respond to dopamine. He defines dopamine as \u201cthe pleasure of anticipation\u2013 the possibility of something unfamiliar and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2347,2156,2485],"class_list":["post-29900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dlgp01","tag-lieberman","tag-molecule-of-more","cohort-dlgp01"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29900"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29905,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29900\/revisions\/29905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}