After reading that title you may be inclined to think… this might be some murder mystery, but calm yourself dear reader.

Today I want to call your attention to a more ruthless, yet silent killer that is plaguing society.

Instant Gratification

It is described formally as the “temptation, and resulting tendency, to forgo a future benefit to obtain a less rewarding but more immediate effect (Oliviera, 2019).”

There have been hundreds if not thousands of clinical and social studies conducted in the last two decades on this phenomenon of Instant Gratification prompted by the changing nature of society.

In a fast paced, disposable and instant coffee age that we live in, people are looking for immediacy not only in their caffeine hit but also a boost to their self worth.

People are obsessed with snapping and posting that perfect self portrait or curating every family memory in the pursuit of likes and clicks to feed this incessant addiction for instant gratification.

As the definition states, instant gratification is a “temptation”, betraying the detrimental nature of this addiction.

Chasing instant gratification is a sure way to miss out on the sustained and long term bliss that life has in store for us. Yet, why do supposedly sane people run after instant gratification like junkies?

The key is in the first part of the name… “instant.” People no longer want to put in time to become worthy of praise or admiration through virtue or morality, they want an immediate return on investment through short cuts and vanity.

Forensic Psychologist Prof. Louis Schlesinger, found even serial killers have a tendency to engage in rituals or actions for instant gratification, that supersede instincts of self preservation and risking capture.

There exists a duality in all of us.. one part of us that wants to do life right.. live right.. be healthy and be known for our character and virtue. The other part is the narcissistic and petulant child that wants attention by any means necessary.

It is a real tragedy that instant gratification junkies won’t realise what they have lost by their one, seemingly, trivial decision.

Like the drug addled woman looks back on that first hit and languishes in her choice of taking that plunge… once someone loses their dignity in the pursuit of gratification.. there is no going back.. you can’t unring that bell!

Society is like a river flowing and only those with courage swim the other way. They will be ridiculed and chastised, but the reward for the principled few is far greater than the fleeting high of instant gratification.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey in 2022-23 found 47% of all Australians above the age of 14 had used illicit drugs. Almost half the country indulged in drugs.. because of the instant gratification it provides either through providing and escape or stimulation.

People are sacrificing their hopes and aspirations, relationships and careers for a supposed quick fix to their problems.

A more subtle aspect of instant gratification is the desire for individuals to get validation from others at the cost of their dignity. People would rather engage in activities that put their future at risk, just to please others or garner praise from strangers. They value the abstract admiration of strangers over the love and affection freely given to them by their partners.

It would be more wholesome and rewarding in the long run to pursue excellence and virtue and be recognised by your loved ones than to cheapen yourself to the applause of people not that interested in your life.

Something to ponder…

References

Oliveira, L. (2019). Managing screen time in an online society. IGI Global.