The Potency, Access, Quantity, and Novelty of Modern Stimuli

Every aspect of human experience has become more potent and accessible in today's world. This increased potency triggers a greater release of dopamine in the brain's reward pathways. The abundance and accessibility of various stimuli, such as drugs and digital content, lack a natural stopping point, leading to addictive behaviors. Combining different stimuli enhances their potency, reinforcing addictive tendencies. Shorter and more potent content, like TikTok videos, causes a surge in dopamine followed by a free fall, creating a cycle of craving. The modern world offers highly potent, easily accessible, abundant, and novel stimuli, impacting human behaviors from food consumption to digital entertainment, leading to concerns about addiction and the challenge for creators to balance short-form and long-form content to cater to changing preferences.