Time for Psychology: Flow

Definition of Flow

Csikszentmihalyi (1975) created a definition of flow is the holistic sensation present when we act with total involvement. It is the state in which action follows upon action according to an internal logic which seems to need no conscious intervantion on our part. We experience it as a unified flowing from one moment to the next, in which we feel in control of our actions, and in which there is little distinction between self and environment; between stimulus and response; or between past, present and future.

There is other definition about Flow, the experiences are commonly referred to as being “in the zone” (Cooper; 1998). By Csikszentmihalyi give the definition in the zone is being in flow.

Context and Situations for Flow

Csikszentmihalyi said that people who were actively involved in creative artistic pursuits of various kinds. In addition to the contexts listed thus far, people report flow when participating in activities such as religius rituals, teaching in class room, using komputer, driving a car, being with one’s family, solitary retreats and even while cramming for exam. One of the most frequently mentioned context for flow is when reading for pleasure. Csikszentmihalyi has also found that people who enjoy their jobs often report being in a state of flow while at work. These are moments when we are leisurely involved in a relatively simple, almost automatic, activity, such as doodling.

Characteristics of Flow

Csikszentmihalyi said that the state of flow can be described with eight parameters :

1. The merging of action and awareness

People whoexperience flow are involved in an activity to the point that they feel “inside” the activity. The person does not have to think about what they are doing before they do it. These is no sense of being an observer who is watching and evaluating the activity.

2. Complete concentration on the task at hand

The merging of action and awareness is made possible by complete concentration and a centering of attention on the activity of teh moment. This concentration appears effortless, however, and is not associated with mental strain or aggressive effort to control or repress thingking.

3. Lack or worry about losing control that, paradoxically, result in a sense of control.

The loss of worry apparently allows people to maintain concentration and focus on the task. This focus allows the person to feel as if they are in complete control of their actions.

4. A loss of self-consciousness

Part of consciousness that evaluates and plans before acting-the ego-is quieted. We do not have to think before we act, we are not trapped in a internal conflict between various options.

5. Time no longer seems to pass in ordinary ways

Time may seen to pass more quickly than usual, or it may appear to be vastly slowed down. This element can be very dramatic and is one of the more distinctive reasons for describing flow as an alternate state of consciousness.

6. Autotelic nature of the experience

The experience is done for its own sake rather than a means to another goal. According to Csikszentmihalyi (1997), the major characteristic that defines autotelicindividuals is that “their psychic energy seems inexhaustible”, in addition, he suggests that autotelic persons are less self.centered and generally less concerned with themselves, tending to be “free of personal goals and ambitions”.

7. Flow accompanies a challenging activity that requires skill

This is one of parameter that Csikszentmihalyi (1997) believes is associated with building the feeling of flow. He believes that when the personal challenge of an activity pushes one’s skill level, the requisite concentration is produced that can include the flow experience.

8. The activity has clear goals and immediate feedback

When the activity must have clear goals snd immediate feedback-as chess does-so that a person does not have to wonder about how well he or she is performing the activity during flow.

Other Qualities of Flow

Csikszentmihalyi’s theory of flow is one of the few theoretical perspectives on psychological well-being that says that higher well-being can be the result of experiencing an alternate state of consciousness-at least in is more intense forms. Because children seem to be able to enter flow states spontaneously and frequently, the ability to experience flow may also be innate. It may be that we do not need to learn how to flow, but we can be taught how to repress flow. Csikszentmihalyi also claimed that the flow experience found in all cultures of the world.

One suggestion is that there are four stages a person might go trough as they move from microflow to very intense flow experiences. (1) paying attention. The task here is to focus attention on physiological processes. (2) interested attention. In this stage, the person does not have to concertrate hard on focusing attention and elimiting distractions. (3) absorbed attention. The person is so absorbed in activity that it is almost impossible for attention to wander or be distracted by what is going on around you. (4) merging. The person is no longer aware of a separation between self and activity.

There is the video about flow