Flow-Theory Sample Clauses

Flow-Theory. Xxxx describes a state of mind, which is characterised by full immersion and a high focus on the current activity. It is “the holistic experience that people feel when they act with total involvement" [56][57]. While being in this state, the current activity is being highly enjoyed and perceived as fulfilling and the individual thus operates at full capacity [58]. Xxxxxxxx [59] describes flow as “the fun of enjoying doing something for its own sake”. In his work, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [57] states that people are happiest when they reach the state of flow. Thus flow depicts the perfect state of intrinsic motivation where nothing else seems to matter to the subject. As opposed to everyday life, flow provides the ability to operate at the limits of one’s potential [60], without being bored or unpleasantly stimulated. Csikszentmihalyi [56] originally named four flow components (control, attention, curiosity, intrinsic interest), but later identified eight distinct dimensions of the flow experience [60]: - Clear goals - Opportunities for acting decisively are relatively high - Action and awareness merge, one-pointedness of mind - Concentration on the task at hand - A sense of potential control - Loss of self-consciousness, transcendence of ego boundaries - Altered sense of time - Experience becomes autotelic If several of the previous conditions are present, actions become autotelic, or worth doing for their own sake. Necessary in this case are clear goals and unambiguous feedback, so that participants know at any given time whether their actions are appropriate or not. Also crucial in this case is a good balance between perceived challenges and perceived skills [61]. If challenges and skill don’t match, then anxiety, apathy or boredom will result. Sports, games, artistic performances or religious rituals provide flow instantly and thus are intrinsically motivating. Most often the skill used or the goal to be reached serve no other purpose than using and refining this skill. Because the motivation is intrinsic, money or other external motivational factors aren’t necessary. Flow opens up the entire world as a source of new challenges and an arena for creativity. Due to its immersive nature, flow provides a distraction from everyday worries and problems. Participants report that they forget their troubles and even neglect basic needs for FI and sleep when experiencing flow. The choice of activities for flow experience varies from person to person. While one person exp...