Lecture Notes: Making Study Addictive

Introduction

• Recent personal experience: Studying 14-16 hours daily.
• Aim: Make studying as addictive as video games by understanding their design.

Video Game Addiction and Its Impact

• Video games cause addiction by fulfilling psychological needs.
• 2022 revenue: $347 billion; video games surpass movies and music.
• Extreme cases: Violence and health issues due to addiction.

The Science of Addiction: Dopamine

• Dopamine: The chemical of want and desire.
• Dopamine release leads to craving and addiction.

Psychological Needs and Video Games

1. Sense of Mastery

• Video games provide continuous improvement.
• Example: Roger Bannister's achievement.

2. Freedom

• Games offer freedom to choose actions.
• Personal example: Enjoyment from games like GTA.

3. Sense of Purpose

• Games have emotional stories and character journeys.
• Example: GTA San Andreas and Need for Speed.

Additional Video Game Hacks

1. Low Risk

• No real consequences for losing.
• Example: Coding experiment with no penalty points.

2. Appropriate Difficulty

• Not overly difficult; follows Goldilocks Rule.

3. High Rewards

• Immediate small rewards increase addiction.
• Example: German study on exercise and rewards.

Implementing Game Design in Studying

Action Step 1: Write Down Your Why

• Identify personal motivations: Pain and pleasure.
• Example: Preparing for exams to avoid unemployment.

Action Step 2: Break Down Challenges

• Divide tasks into macro and micro goals.
• Set deadlines and use timed study sessions with breaks.

Action Step 3: Track Your Progress

• Use self-assessment like daily quizzes.
• View mistakes as learning opportunities.

Bonus Tip: Reward Yourself

• Give yourself small rewards after study sessions.
• Example: Treats like watching movies or buying snacks.

Conclusion

• Motivation and understanding are key to engaging in studies.
• Apply these strategies to enhance your study experience.