Impulsivity and Immediate Gratification

 Linked is an article on instant gratification and the issues it creates for our neuropsychology: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-modern-brain/201909/the-real-issue-instant-gratification 

We make impulsive decisions when the immediate outcome feels more rewarding than a long term, better outcome (Berg, 2025). We might choose to play video games all night instead of studying hard for an exam the following day. Many of us have made decisions that feel good in the moment, but are detrimental in the long run. According to Psychology Today, instant gratification increases dopamine release in our brains, making these instant decisions feel more rewarding than more positive long term decisions (Frye, para #5, 2019). So when we play those video games or spend hours on social media instead of studying, we feel good because of the way immediate gratification impacts our neuropsychology. This is problematic because it teaches us to do what feels good now and not what is best for us long term (Frye, para #6-7, 2019). Eating at Burger King might feel good in the moment, but it can give us health issues later. We live in a world driven by immediate gratification, and sometimes, it is important to remember that restraint and long term planning are more important than how we feel in the present. 

References 

Berg, M. (2025). Impulsivity and self control. [Google Slides Presentation]. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1t8RNaXnCnL1F9IClxiwed8IF2S67yXHiTRAXxCtFjeg/edit?slide=id.g2a7a18e1e_00#slide=id.g2a7a18e1e_00 

Frye, D. (2019, September 14). The real issue with instant gratification. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-modern-brain/201909/the-real-issue-instant-gratification