What Do We Crave? - Understanding Supernormal Stimuli

Breaking Bread Podcast

What is normal? In a world of air brushing and curated content, it can be illusive. Yet, having a good compass toward knowing normal goes a long way toward good mental health. Studies have shown that supernormal stimuli can have a damaging effect on our brains. In this episode of Breaking Bread, addiction specialist, Jacob Feucht, teaches us what supernormal stimuli are, how to spot them and unwind their influence.

Show Notes:

Definition:

• Supernormal Stimulus – Exaggerated characteristics in normal stimuli.

Problem:

• Studies have shown that humans can begin to crave what is not natural or real at the expense of what is natural and real.

Examples:

• Diet: We can crave unnatural foods at the expense of natural foods.

• Attention: We can crave unnatural rapidity of stimuli and addict ourselves to distraction because we resist the “slowness” of reality.

• Pornography: We crave sexual stimuli and addict ourselves to unnatural characteristics at the expense of healthy biblical sexual relations.

Healthy living:

• Seek after, linger in and live in the real world. Learn to love what God created and what He created them for.