Each chip can provide instant, “micro” pleasure. But how much long-term satiety will it provide? … [+]
What do Doritos have to do with your social media addiction or continuing bad relationships? That means your relationships didn’t involve burying each other under mounds of Doritos. Well, something called the ‘Dorito Theory’ is making the rounds on TikTok. As is often the case on social media, it’s unclear who actually came up with the term “Dorito Theory.” But a TikTok video post by @celeste.aria_ who summarized this theory in a minute and a half has received over 92.6 thousand likes. In this video, he explained the allure of Doritos and other chips: “Eating chips is addictive because the peak of the experience is when you taste them, not afterwards.” He went on to say, “There is nothing that exists when the experience is complete.”
In fact, you probably don’t look at an empty bag of chips after you’ve dumped all of its contents and think, “I’m so glad I did. This will really improve my social status, career and health. And my spirituality, wow, just wow!” Instead, each chip may have given you instant gratification while disintegrating like a small pebble in your mouth. But once it’s down the hatch, your next thought might be, “Oh, what happened to that flavor? Where’s the next one?’
Without feeling full after a real meal like chicken and eggs, you could just keep eating a chip and another and another until you run out of chips. Since potato chips usually aren’t exactly packed with good-for-you nutrients, this could lead to an unhealthy intake of salt and calories. The same can be true of other addictive foods and drinks such as candy. soda and alcoholic beverages. After all, how often do you wake up with a hangover, dressed as a circus clown with someone you don’t know sleeping next to you in bed and say, “This is how I want to feel all the time?”
Little periodic hits of dopamine can keep you in a relationship that is wrong for you. (Photo: Getty)
Such a phenomenon may apply to a number of other addictive behaviors, including those that don’t involve putting things in your mouth—or maybe they do depending on what you’re into. For example, this can happen when you immerse yourself in certain dating and relationship circles. Let’s say you’re in a big rush when you first have sex with someone new. Or maybe you’re attracted to qualities or situations that aren’t necessarily good for you, but momentarily hit the dopamine pedal. It could be that wild, fluctuating Dogecoin drama that always keeps you on your toes. This constant need for more can cause you to bounce from relationship to relationship, get stuck in a drama filled relationship, or look for the wrong person rather a more stable, consistent and ultimately more fulfilling and fulfilling partner that is right for you.
Social media can also be a chip off the same block. How many social media posts leave you with more than temporary feelings? How many posts help satiate you to the point where you can put down your mobile device and do things like go to the bathroom, sleep, and communicate with your family? As a result, you can just keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling, looking for more of that feeling. To be truly rewarding, a social media experience must be “More Than A Feeling,” in the words of this Boston song.
Of course, the “Dorito Theory” presents only one element of addiction, which can be much more complex. A number of other factors can contribute to being addicted to something or continuing bad habits. But this theory can help you bring new perspective to what you do. As with a bag of Doritos, when approaching any situation, ask yourself, “How will I feel after all this?” If the answer is “not that good,” then it might not be the bag for you.
