Is addiction a choice? | Big Questions with Gabor Maté

Summary

In this thought-provoking talk, Dr. Gabor Maté challenges the misconception that addiction is a choice, emphasizing the deep connection between trauma, addiction, and brain physiology. He critiques societal norms, arguing that many behaviors considered 'normal' are actually unhealthy responses to an unhealthy culture. Drawing from his experiences with patients in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Maté illustrates how early trauma shapes individuals and can lead to addiction. He suggests that true change comes not from trying to alter who we are, but from reconnecting with our true selves, highlighting the importance of healing in the face of societal pressures.

Takeaways

• 😀 Addiction is not a choice but a response to childhood trauma, and the notion that addiction is voluntary is unscientific.
• 😀 The criminal justice system often fails to recognize addiction as a symptom of trauma, labeling those affected as criminals rather than victims of circumstances.
• 😀 Addiction is not limited to substances; it encompasses a wide range of behaviors like gambling, shopping, overeating, and even addiction to power or sex.
• 😀 Our culture fosters unhealthy patterns, making people more likely to experience mental and physical health problems.
• 😀 The concept of 'normal' in society is misleading; statistical norms do not necessarily equate to health or well-being.
• 😀 Health, whether physical or mental, should be understood as a spectrum, and societal norms should not define what is 'healthy.'
• 😀 Human beings are biopsychosocial creatures, meaning our biological, psychological, and social lives are interconnected.
• 😀 The emotional state of a mother during pregnancy can have lasting biological effects on the child, and these influences continue throughout life.
• 😀 Rising mental health issues, including anxiety and ADHD, reflect the damaging effects of modern societal pressures.
• 😀 Society often promotes illness through competition, isolation, unhealthy food, and polluted environments, making sickness a normal response to an unhealthy culture.
• 😀 People can change and heal by reconnecting with their true selves, which requires overcoming societal alienation and trauma to embrace their authentic identity.

Q & A

What does Gabor Maté mean when he says that addiction is not a choice?

Gabor Maté argues that addiction is a response to pain, often rooted in childhood trauma. People do not choose to become addicts; rather, addiction is an attempt to cope with the trauma they have experienced. He points out that addiction is not limited to substances, but can also manifest in behaviors like gambling or work addiction.

How does Gabor Maté define addiction?

Addiction, according to Maté, is any behavior that a person finds temporary relief or pleasure in and therefore craves, but which results in negative consequences that they do not give up despite these consequences. This includes behaviors like drug use, gambling, eating, or even addiction to power.

What is the 'myth of normal' as described by Gabor Maté?

The 'myth of normal' refers to the mistaken belief that certain behaviors and patterns in society are inherently healthy or natural just because they are statistically common. Maté argues that many of these behaviors are unhealthy, yet they are normalized in our culture, leading people to confuse what is statistically normal with what is truly healthy.

How does Maté describe the relationship between human health and society?

Maté suggests that our health—both physical and mental—is influenced by the society we live in. He believes that many of the societal qualities, such as competition and stress, actually contribute to illness, including rising rates of anxiety, ADHD, autoimmune diseases, and obesity. These health issues, he argues, are normal responses to an unhealthy cultural environment.

What does Maté mean by saying humans are 'biopsychosocial creatures'?

Maté describes humans as 'biopsychosocial creatures' to emphasize that our biology, psychology, and social environment are interconnected. Our physical health is influenced by our emotional and psychological experiences, which are, in turn, shaped by our social context and relationships.

What role does childhood trauma play in addiction, according to Maté?

Maté explains that childhood trauma, such as sexual abuse or neglect, significantly affects the brain and can lead to addictive behaviors later in life. He claims that the trauma a person experiences shapes their brain's physiology, making them more susceptible to addiction as a way to cope with unresolved pain.

Can people change who they are, according to Maté?

Maté believes that it's not about changing who we are, but about becoming who we truly are. He emphasizes that society often alienates us from our true selves, and the process of healing involves reconnecting with our authentic nature. Transformation is possible, as seen in individuals who have found healing through confronting illness or trauma.

How does Maté view the cultural factors that affect mental health?

Maté argues that cultural factors, such as social isolation, competitive environments, and unhealthy food, contribute significantly to mental health issues. He notes that emotional and psychological stressors, such as the breakdown of social connections, exacerbate conditions like anxiety and depression.

What is the impact of societal pressures on children and their health?

Societal pressures, including stress on mothers during pregnancy and the growing expectations placed on children, can negatively impact health. Children born to stressed mothers show biological markers of that stress from birth, and societal pressures continue to affect their health through childhood and adulthood.

What is Maté's perspective on the concept of God?

Maté describes his relationship with the concept of God as evolving. Growing up as a militant atheist in communist Hungary, he initially rejected the traditional, omniscient, and omnipotent God. However, over time, he has come to accept a broader, more experiential understanding of God, which he sees as a connection to the oneness and goodness of the universe, rather than a rigid belief or concept.