MINISODE MONDAY: Bruce Alexander-- The Man Behind "Rat Park"MINISODE MONDAY: Bruce Alexander-- The Man Behind "Rat Park"
The Social Exchange
Bruce Alexander discusses the social roots of addiction and his 'Rat Park' experiment with Zach Rhoads.
6:01•29 Oct 2019
Bruce Alexander: Rethinking Addiction Through 'Rat Park'
“Addiction is just part of life. It's just that we have this capacity to focus. And of course, that's how children grow up. They have these infatuations which could be to excavators, or dollies or dinosaurs, or whatever it happens to be, and that's how they educate themselves and that's how they sort of coordinate the adults around them who understand this.”
What if addiction isn't just a medical issue but a social one? In this episode of 'The Social Exchange', host Zach Rhoads chats with Bruce Alexander, the psychologist behind the groundbreaking 'Rat Park' experiment. Alexander argues that addiction is more about our social environment than our biology. He suggests that modern society's increasing dislocation is a key factor in the rise of addiction.
Forget the typical focus on individual-level solutions; Alexander believes we need to rethink our entire social structure to tackle this issue effectively. This minisode offers a fresh perspective on addiction, challenging the way we usually think about it. Alexander draws from his personal life and research to make his case, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the deeper causes of addiction. If you're curious about how societal change can impact addiction, this conversation is for you.
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