Neurotransmitterism

A secular neuroscientist religion that reduces all mental states, emotions, and even social phenomena to the action of specific neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin. It treats low serotonin as the cause of depression (ignoring context, biography, power), dopamine as the basis of reward (ignoring meaning), and oxytocin as “the love molecule” (ignoring complex social bonds). Neurotransmitterism sells quick fixes (SSRIs for sadness, dopamine detox for distraction) and offers a tidy, materialist explanation for messy human life. Critics call it “chemical reductionism” and note that correlation is not causation.

Neurotransmitterism Example: “The neurotransmitterist explained her grief as ‘low serotonin’ and prescribed pills, ignoring the death of her child. He reduced a unique, meaningful loss to a chemical imbalance.”

Neurotransmitterism by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal June 5, 2026