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The Dark Side of the Moon

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Advances in Flow Research

Abstract

When talking about flow, most people probably think of a highly desirable state associated with a broad variety of positive outcomes in terms of positive motivation, well-being, and performance. In contrast, this chapter suggests that the characteristics of flow also have the potential to be evil. First, we will explain how flow can lead to addiction when exercising, playing games, and using the Internet. Then we will consider how flow is linked to impaired risk perception and risky behavior. As a third negative facet of flow, we will outline how it can also be experienced in antisocial contexts and during combat. This chapter ends with some broader comments on the dark and bright sides of flow, including flow as a universal experience, the implications for practical interventions, ethical questions related to flow, and future research questions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Julia Schüler

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  1. Julia Schüler
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Correspondence to Julia Schüler .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Fachbereich I - Psychologie, Universität Trier, Trier, 54286, Germany

    Stefan Engeser

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Schüler, J. (2012). The Dark Side of the Moon. In: Engeser, S. (eds) Advances in Flow Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2359-1_7

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