Dopamine is often misunderstood as a simple 'pleasure chemical,' but it is more deeply tied to motivation, anticipation, and reward-seeking. It helps the brain learn what to pursue, repeat, and expect.

This matters because many modern systems—from social media to gambling to habit loops—are built around reward prediction and reinforcement. To understand compulsion and motivation, you have to understand that human behavior is often driven by what the brain expects will feel rewarding next.

Reference:

Wikipedia: Dopamine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine