Gear Acquisition Syndrome
For many photographers, the quest for the perfect shot often becomes intertwined with an unquenchable thirst for gear. The delight that wells up at the thought of researching, acquiring (the shinier, the better), unboxing, and finally using a new piece of equipment is undeniably thrilling. The joy, however, is ephemeral, fading much faster than the lifespan of the gear or its photographic output. Soon enough, the cycle repeats — gear reviews are read, purchases are made, and the initial euphoria dissipates. This perpetual quest for new gear often results in depleted wallets and space. Yet, it fuels the sales of gear manufacturers. Welcome to Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS), a rampant affliction among photographers.
What is a Gear Acquisition Syndrome
GAS is a constant preoccupation with acquiring new camera equipment and other photography-related accessories. This obsession is fueled by a sense of inadequacy regarding current gear, a relentless pursuit of technical improvements, peer pressure, or the quest for the ultimate photographic tool. But often, GAS leads to unnecessary expenditures, clutter, and a distraction from the absolute joy of capturing images. The worst manifestation of GAS among photographers is the excessive buying of cameras and lenses. This behavior is often costly and yet fails to yield commensurate income to justify the expenses, causing many amateurs and hobbyists to fall into the GAS trap.
Unraveling the GAS phenomenon necessitates understanding its neurological and psychological foundations, beginning with the formation of memories.
Neuroscience behind GAS
Memories result from communicating neurons via electrical and chemical signals, which forge new connections and strengthen existing ones. The formation of these memories is guided by factors such as attention, repetition, and emotion, resulting in long-lasting memories. Working in tandem with sensory parts of our body, these memories trigger diverse emotions, including pleasure.
The sensation of pleasure arises from the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine in specific brain areas, such as the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex, which are integral to reward processing, motivation, and decision-making. Pleasure is an individual experience shaped by personal preferences, expectations, and experiences. For GAS-afflicted photographers, acquiring and utilizing new gear provides excitement, anticipation, and a sense of achievement and pride. The belief that new equipment will enhance the quality of their work or make their workflow more efficient triggers this pleasure, rewarding the mental and emotional energy invested in dreaming about the acquisition.
The linchpin of the pleasure system is dopamine, often referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter. Dopamine plays a central role in the brain's reward and pleasure systems, its release stimulated by goal achievement or novel experiences. In GAS, acquiring new gear triggers a dopamine release, resulting in pleasure and satisfaction. This reward can, over time, form a behavioral pattern-seeking repeated dopamine hits, leading to an 'addiction' to acquiring new gear. The brain starts associating acquiring new gear with pleasure, instigating a continuous desire for more purchases, regardless of need or use. This "buying high" may lead to financial repercussions and unnecessary clutter, demonstrating how dopamine-driven behavior, while initially pleasurable, can result in adverse outcomes.
The brain's reward system interacts with areas involved in decision-making and memory, molding our preferences, habits, and learning. Over time, repeated gear acquisitions serve as stimuli that alter the brain's reward system, modifying the pleasure threshold and potentially leading to maladaptive behaviors, such as addiction.
Addiction operates in cycles largely governed by the brain's reward system. The cycle typically commences with exposure to a pleasurable stimulus — in the case of GAS, photography gear. This exposure prompts a dopamine release in the brain's reward centers, amplified by reading gear reviews or checking out your local electronics store's camera and lens equipment. The resulting pleasure reinforces the behavior, compelling the individual to seek the stimulus again. Over time, repeated exposure can modify the brain's reward system, rendering the individual less sensitive to the stimulus and necessitating larger "doses" to achieve the same pleasure level — in other words, making the actual purchase.
However, when this cycle is completed — acquiring the gear and experiencing the resultant dopamine surge, coupled with emotions such as sadness from postponed purchases, jealousy when peers acquire desired gear, and depression from financial incapacity to buy — it creates a reward system realized upon actual gear acquisition. This can lead to compulsive use, even in the face of negative consequences.
Various emotions feed this vicious cycle: Depression, associated with changes in brain regions regulating mood, motivation, and cognition; jealousy, stemming from a complex interplay of cognitive and emotional processes influenced by factors such as past experiences, personality traits, and cultural norms; and sadness, regulated by brain areas such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and insula. These negative emotions can perpetuate the cycle of addiction by creating powerful drives to continue using, even when the stimulus is removed.
Understanding these mechanisms is crucial to addressing GAS and preventing it from hampering photography's true joy — creating meaningful images.
Strategies to break this cycle
Now that we understand the neuroscience behind our GAS, we must look into some strategies to break it. Let’s face it, not all of us are objective when buying new gear (even those objective-minded individuals have a different Akelis heal - just not photography gear). Its success depends on many external and internal factors.
Understand the neuroscience behind addiction: Recognize that the dopamine-driven "buying high" isn't a reflection of actual need or the gear's utility but an ingrained behavioral response. This understanding can help reduce the impulsive urges to acquire new gear. Some stoic strategies involve re-living your regrets after repeatedly buying expensive gear to reduce the ‘buying high,’ which eventually gives you the strength to resist buying unnecessary gear.
Mindful consumption: Limit exposure to advertisements and gear reviews that can trigger gear acquisition impulses. Unsubscribe from newsletters, avoid browsing photography websites and actively reduce time spent in environments that may prompt gear purchasing.
Redirect Dopamine Rewards: Develop a reward system around mastering current gear or creating exceptional work with what's already available. This re-wiring can shift the dopamine reward from buying gear to using it, thereby breaking the purchase cycle. For example, set a lofty goal of capturing 100k moments with your current camera and breaking even financially before rewarding yourself with the next new gear.
Logotherapy-inspired goal setting: Viktor Frankl's logotherapy emphasizes finding purpose and meaning in life. Apply this by focusing on what you want to achieve with photography or life. Let these goals drive gear choices, if necessary, rather than the allure of new equipment.
Delayed Gratification: When tempted to buy new gear, delay the purchase. Use that time to critically evaluate whether the item is essential or is being driven by impulsive desires.
Budgeting and Financial Planning: Create a strict budget for photography gear. This practical step can make one more conscious of unnecessary purchases.
Closure
In conclusion, while the allure of new gear can be enticing, understanding the neurobiology behind GAS is critical to overcoming it. Strategies to combat GAS include mindful consumption, setting purpose-driven goals, delaying gratification, and financial planning. By shifting the focus from gear acquisition to creating impactful images, we can resist GAS, reclaim the joy of photography, and ensure our passion is driven by creativity, not by the compulsion to acquire more equipment.
More to read
Tools to Manage Dopamine and Improve Motivation & Drive
Dr. Andrew Huberman
The Hooked Model: How to Manufacture Desire in 4 Steps
Nir Eyal
Viktor E. Frankl