Social Media causing impulsive shopping- Quoted in TheMint
- Thought Matters
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
Social Media causing impulsive shopping- Quoted in TheMint on 29th Oct, 2025 in an article by Deepika Chelani
Dr. Nahid Dave, psychiatrist and psychotherapist based in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, breaks down what happens in the brain.
“When I’m used to continuous dopamine hits through Reels, other activities that give me steady or sustained dopamine, like meeting a friend, reading, or enjoying coffee, start feeling dull as my threshold changes. To feel that pleasure again, my brain pushes me toward higher stimulation, risk-taking, and impulsivity for instant gratification. This explains why I might impulsively buy without needing things,” she says.
Dr. Nahid Dave adds another layer to this behaviour. “When I see a relatable influencer, I want to feel closer to them. If I can’t match their followers or success, I try to copy what’s within my reach, like buying the products they use, which briefly boosts my self-esteem and provides social validation. On repeated watching, my brain’s reward system overrides rational decision-making,” she says.
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