"The survey found that 67 percent of Americans engage in retail therapy involving snacks and treats as a way to cheer themselves up, estimating roughly $526.04 per year. The survey also concluded that 49 percent of Americans purchase takeout to comfort themselves, with an approximate cost of $598.45 annually. It may come as a shock that snacks, treats, and takeout have surpassed retail therapy for clothes, shoes, beauty products, and even video games."
"The explanation lies in the neuroscience of our brain's reward system. Our reward system involves interconnected regions of the brain that play a role in regulating pleasure, motivation, and habit formation. Dopamine plays a central role in how our brain processes reward; it is a neurotransmitter that relays messages between neurons and other cells within the body. Dopamine is commonly referred to as the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter due to its role in activating the brain's reward system."
A survey of 2,000 consumers reveals that food dominates emotional spending habits among Americans, surpassing traditional retail therapy categories like clothing and electronics. Approximately 67% of Americans spend roughly $526 annually on snacks and treats to improve their mood, while 49% spend about $598 yearly on takeout for comfort. This emotional spending pattern is rooted in neuroscience, specifically how dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain's reward system. Dopamine activates pleasure, motivation, and habit formation pathways, explaining why food has become the primary vehicle for mood regulation and emotional spending among American consumers.
Read at Psychology Today
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