{"id":43519,"date":"2021-07-31T16:02:25","date_gmt":"2021-07-31T20:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=43519"},"modified":"2021-08-03T17:08:11","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T21:08:11","slug":"neuro-associations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/neuro-associations\/","title":{"rendered":"Neuro Associations: Why You Make Bad Decisions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are neuro associations? Why do we often decide not <\/em>to do things that we know would benefit us? Why do we snack on chips when we know fruit is better for us? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer lies in our pain and pleasure neuro associations. The driving force behind all of our decisions\u2014and, thus, our actions\u2014is the motivation to avoid pain <\/em>and seek pleasure<\/em>. Understanding our neuro associations can help us to understand why we do the things we do and prevent us from making bad decisions<\/a> in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about neuro associations below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Neuro Associations, Explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The reason we make bad decisions<\/a> or engage in bad habits is all down to pain and pleasure neuro associations. When we indulge in a junk-food habit, it\u2019s because we gain pleasure from munching on salty snacks, and we associate pain with eating veggies instead. There are different forms of pain (such as inconvenience and humiliation) and pleasure (such as ecstasy and comfort). Generally, fear of pain <\/em>or loss is a stronger motivator than the desire for pleasure <\/em>or gain\u2014in other words, you\u2019ll continue to eat junk food if your love of chips isn\u2019t as strong as your aversion to healthy food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll discuss the ways that pain and pleasure neuro associations like this can prevent you from reaching your goals<\/a> and living the life you want.<\/strong> First, let\u2019s look at what, exactly, these associations are and how they form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognize How Your Neuro-Associations Cause Poor Decision-Making<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not only do your pain and pleasure neuro-associations influence all of your decisions\u2014by motivating you to avoid pain and seek pleasure\u2014but they are also strong enough to withstand any logic that contradicts them. This means that your associations can drive you to engage in self-destructive behavior and poor decision-making<\/a> against logic and your better judgment. <\/strong>Furthermore, since neuro-associations are subconscious, you often can\u2019t figure out why <\/em>you keep acting illogically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if you watched your parents live lavishly off credit\u2014and you never saw them deal with any negative consequences from the habit\u2014you may associate credit with happiness and luxury. This association may, without you even realizing it, cause you to rely heavily on your credit card as you seek the pleasure you derive from using it, despite any advice and information from your financial advisor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, if you don\u2019t understand<\/a> the power of pain<\/a> and pleasure associations to motivate your every action, including your decisions, you can\u2019t take control over your behavior, and you end up perpetually <\/strong>reacting<\/em><\/strong> to things around you instead of <\/strong>acting<\/em><\/strong> of your own will.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understand That Mixed Associations Cause Self-Sabotaging Behaviors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the problem isn\u2019t one<\/em> disempowering neuro-association but rather a harmful combination<\/em> of mixed associations\u2014as in, you associate both pain and pleasure with the same thing. When your brain gets these mixed signals, it becomes confused and can trigger self-sabotaging behaviors<\/a> that are partially driven by positive associations and partially by negative ones. <\/strong>For example, many people have mixed associations about money:<\/p>\n\n\n\n