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Savvy Psychologist

Extreme thinking: Why our brains crave intensity over balance

Savvy Psychologist

Macmillan Holdings, LLC

Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Science, Self-improvement, Education

4.71.4K Ratings

🗓️ 26 March 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why do we love extremes, whether it’s thrill-seeking, viral controversies, or black-and-white thinking? Monica breaks down the psychology behind our attraction to intensity and how we can find balance in a world that rewards the extreme.

Transcript

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0:00.0

When it comes to human behavior, there's a curious truth.

0:08.0

We're often more drawn to extremes than to the middle ground.

0:12.0

The balanced middle path may be where wisdom supposedly lives, but it rarely excites us.

0:19.0

Think about it.

0:20.0

We love the thrill of roller coasters, the drama of reality TV,

0:24.8

the extremes of success stories, and even polarizing opinions online.

0:31.0

But why?

0:32.8

What makes extremes so irresistible to us?

0:36.3

Even when we know that balance might be better for our mental

0:40.2

and emotional well-being. As a psychologist who keeps it real, let me break down the psychological

0:46.5

reasons behind this phenomenon. We'll dive into the science, the social dynamics, and the emotional

0:52.9

triggers that make extremes so compelling.

0:57.0

Welcome back to savvy psychologist. I'm your host, Dr. Monica Johnson. Every week on this show,

1:03.5

I'll help you face life challenges with evidence-based approaches, a sympathetic ear, and zero

1:09.5

judgment. First, our brains like novelty. In fact, our brains are

1:15.6

wired for it. The human brain, specifically the limbic system, craves stimulation. New, intense or

1:24.1

unusual experiences, activate the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine, a feel-good

1:30.7

neurotransmitter that reinforces pleasure. Extremes, whether it's an extreme sport or an extreme

1:37.7

opinion, deliver that novelty in spades. Research backs this up. Research on sensation-seeking personalities found that individuals

1:49.0

with high sensation-seeking tendencies gravitate toward extreme activities. But even those of us who

1:56.6

aren't jumping out of planes can get hooked on extremes. Social media is a perfect example.

2:03.4

Outrageous headlines, radical opinions,

...

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