ELI5: how come the human brain is easily addicted to games and tv but not to studying and learning?

The stories we tell ourselves regarding either.

For example, studying and learning in our contemporary culture is seen more as a means to an end rather than an end in itself. We tell ourselves, "I need to learn A, so I can understand B, then I can become C and just enjoy life!", but often don't entertain the idea that the process of A is enjoying life.

Games and TV are always an 'end'. We never use games or TV to get to something, they are always things we do for the sake of the activity.

People have other stuff down about feedback loops and reward mechanisms and I feel that's important too, but the possibility for the change to occur where studying and learning can be seen as 'addicting' tasks can only take place when you see them as an activity unto itself. Not to get somewhere else.

/r/explainlikeimfive Thread