We are taught from a young age that our actions have consequences. Most people can easily connect what they do with what happens next.
But new research from psychologists at UNSW Sydney and Western Sydney University shows that not everyone can make this link.
This may explain why some people continue to engage in harmful behaviors, even when they know these behaviors are bad for them.
The study explored why certain people keep repeating actions that cause them harm, such as addiction or risky behavior. The researchers wanted to know whether the problem lies not in motivation, but in how people learn from experience.
To find out, the team asked young adults to play a simple space-themed video game. Players clicked on two planets to earn points, which could later be exchanged for a cash prize.
What the participants didn’t know was that one planet came with a hidden risk—a pirate ship that would sometimes appear and steal most of their points. The other planet was safe and had no such risk.
Some participants, whom the researchers called “sensitives,” quickly realized that one planet caused losses and changed their strategy to avoid it. But another group, called “compulsives,” did not learn from the pattern. Even after being told that one planet was dangerous, they kept clicking on it and losing their points.
This caught the researchers’ attention. Why would people keep choosing the harmful option when they already knew the outcome? The team believes that some people may make logical but false explanations for their losses, which prevents them from truly learning from the experience.
In real life, this could explain why people repeat behaviors that harm them—like gambling, substance use, or risky relationships—even when they understand the risks.
Traditionally, psychologists have explained self-destructive behavior in two ways. One view is that people choose the harmful behavior because they value it more than the negative effects.
The other is that they have lost conscious control over their actions. But this study points to a third explanation: some people may have trouble linking their actions to their consequences in the first place.
The researchers also noted that when negative outcomes happen only occasionally, it becomes easier for people to justify their actions.
For example, a smoker might tell themselves that one more cigarette won’t hurt, or a gambler might think their luck will change. These occasional rewards or punishments can make harmful habits very hard to break.
This kind of learning problem is not limited to addiction—it can affect anyone who takes risks or makes unhealthy choices from time to time.
The study’s findings suggest that helping people become more aware of how their actions cause certain outcomes could make treatments for compulsive or self-destructive behavior more effective.
Self-destructive behaviors can take many forms, and they often hurt both mental and physical health. Examples include substance abuse, eating disorders, self-harm, gambling, perfectionism, workaholism, and isolation.
These actions can damage relationships and lower overall well-being. They often come from deeper emotional or psychological struggles, and professional help is important for recovery.
The study, led by Dr. Philip Jean-Richard-dit-Bressel and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers a fresh perspective on why some people have such difficulty changing harmful patterns.
It suggests that improving how people connect actions and consequences could be key to helping them make lasting changes.
If you’re interested in mental health research, other recent studies have shown that high doses of antidepressants may affect brain function, while vitamin D could help reduce symptoms of depression. Fermented foods have been found to ease stress, and the MIND diet may help keep the brain healthy as we age.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about common exercises that could protect against cognitive decline, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
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