Some research suggests that certain things we enjoy today would be classified as supernormal stimuli , a term evolutionary biologists use to describe any stimulus that elicits a response stronger than the stimulus for which it evolved—even if it’s artificial.

• He constructed plaster eggs to see which a bird preferred to sit on, finding that they would select those that were larger, had more defined markings, or more saturated color—a dayglo-bright one with black polka dots would be selected over the bird’s own pale, dappled eggs.

Dr. Barrett seems to think that the link is closer then we believe, arguing that supernormal stimulation govern the behavior of humans as powerfully as that of animals.

The hypothesis is that just like Tinbergen’s quick introductions of abnormal stimulation to animals, advancing technology ...

The highly addictive nature of junk food is one of our generation’s great concerns—food is being engineered specifically to be more appealing than its natural counterparts.

Some studies hav...

Research agrees that video games doesn't cause excessively violent behavior, but I do have to admit that it seems video games may be addictive for some people, and in particular, f...

Probably the most controversial of all modern stimuli, pornography has been described as insidious in nature because it might skew the otherwise normal activity of sex. Porn has been linked to changing sexual tastes, a...

Unsurprisingly, psychologists are now giving serious consideration to the web, recognizing that it may be a very addictive outlet. It allows unfettered control to engage in nearly anything, and some countries like Japan and South Korea have had serious problems

This can seem like a lot to take in at once.

Before you panic, freak out, and throw away all of your Oreos + cancel your internet subscription, remember—everything in moderation.

Take the Internet:  there are signs that in some ways the Internet might become a distrac...

In both cases, the main change is awareness . Awareness that the reason we are drawn to sickly desserts is because they are sweeter than any naturally-occurring fruit.

Awareness that watching television activates the primitive ‘orienting response’, keeping our eyes drawn to...

C.S. Lewis has some great thoughts on this: “Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of the wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gi...