People vow to end their relationships after discovering viral 'Doritos theory'

A new theory based around the snack Doritos has got folks thinking it might be time to end things with their partners.

Yep - the Dorito theory is now gathering pace on social media, with more than half a million views on TikTok.

So what does it all mean? Well, according to one popular video - the theory is based around the idea that if you find yourself eating Dorito after Dorito without giving it much thought, then that attitude could spread to other areas of your life.

Sharing a deeper explainer of the theory, TikTok user Celeste Aria said: “One thing I can't stop thinking about is called the Dorito theory. I learned about this and now I see everything a little bit differently.

“The idea is that only experiences that aren't truly satisfying are maximally addictive. So imagine eating Doritos. When you eat a Dorito and finish your bite, you're not fully satisfied.

"It’s not the same as eating a steak or eating really satiating food that's high in protein, where after you bite you really feel that fullness and that warmth of satisfaction.

“Eating potato chips is addictive because the peak of the experience is kind of when you're first tasting it and not after. There's nothing that exists that exists once the experience is done. The experience itself is not satisfying in the end. It’s kind of the micro-moment of having is the satisfying part.”

She goes on to suggest that this could apply to ‘lots of very addictive things in life’, such as social media consumption.

She went on: “Like the infinite scroll on TikTok, you're never satisfied after you engage in the behaviour, it's really just that micro-moment of hitting the scroll is when the dopamine comes.

“With Dorito theory - just this idea that things that aren’t actually satisfying are the ones that are maximally addictive and that’s why I want them - I think I can identify those areas and try to avoid them more effectively.”

She concluded: “It seems a little bit intense but I’d recommend actually trying to just remove anything that you think falls into the Dorito category.”

And it seems to have struck a chord with fellow TikTok users, with one person commenting: “Wow this is game changing.”

Another said: “My situationship is defo a Dorito.”

A third wrote: "You just improved my life my dear! *relabels that man in my phone as Dorito*."

Another said: "Yes. The men who barely give me what i need. I’ve been learning to give them up quicker once i find out."

While a final user added: “You can never get enough of something you don’t need.”

And while the theory may seem a bit unusual, psychologist Reneé Carr told USA Today that the theory is something that is worthwhile keeping in mind.

She said: “Not experiencing satiation when engaging in a particular activity or in a relationship can influence you into staying in a situation that is not truly satisfying, not healthy and not happy.

“Because you experience just enough satisfaction, we mistakenly think that full satisfaction is possible – leading us to stay longer or invest more energy unnecessarily.”