Flow- mental pollution assessment

How to use tool
Please fill in name of product/company you want to assess in the field below and then complete five assessment steps. Once completed you can submit the assessment to view the result.
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From one-sided to balance
‍Products/companies that rate highly with regards to short-term pleasure &/or stress and dopamine at the same time as not contributing significantly to long-term eudaimonia &/or creativity and serotonin are likely to contribute to mental pollution with short-term thinking and and promoting an urge for further activities that provide increased dopamine hits. These companies and products risk contribute to anti-neuroplasticity. This situation can be described as “mental pollution”.

Products/companies where the rating shows a balance between “long-term eudaimonia &/or creativity and dopamine” and “short-term pleasure &/or stress and dopamine” are likely to support long-term thinking, creativity and satisfaction. These companies and products have the potential to contribute to pro-neuroplasticity. Such a situation can result in a state-of-mind called “flow”.

Name of product / company

Use of product / service

When using the product is it the consumer that use it for their own short-term pleasure (e.g. fast food), or is it giving the user happiness by contributing to society (e.g. research equipment that help develop a cure for cancer)?

Need supported

Is the product sold and marketed to be consumed and a new one bought again soon after give the consumer pleasure (e.g. fast fashion) or is sold so the person do not need to buy more of it and is supported in finding long-term happiness without material consumption (e.g. meditation app)?

Role supported

What role is the product supporting the consumer to have, is it encouraging the person to take as much as possible due to artificial scarcity (such as limited editions), or does it support a role of giving (e.g. such as the Fureai kippu system in Japan for taking care of elders)?

Social context

Is the product encouraging individual isolated activity (e.g. many computer games), or is it supportive collective action (such as outdoor activities for groups)?

Feeling encouraged

Does the product focus on the body (e.g. energy drinks and highly processed food), or does it focus on the mind (e.g. books and music)?