Addiction might be another example. It starts with pursuing a feeling of relief. Search is imperfect, focusing on reward system responses in the brain rather than the feeling of relief originally sought. Drug makers and addicts focus on stimulating that reward center, rather than on creating/​consuming drugs that might produce relief. Some actions that stimulate the reward system further decouple brain stimulus from relief, like self isolation or theft to get money for drugs.
Addiction might be another example. It starts with pursuing a feeling of relief. Search is imperfect, focusing on reward system responses in the brain rather than the feeling of relief originally sought. Drug makers and addicts focus on stimulating that reward center, rather than on creating/​consuming drugs that might produce relief. Some actions that stimulate the reward system further decouple brain stimulus from relief, like self isolation or theft to get money for drugs.
Excellent example. Your politics example is great too.