Changes

'''Flow''' is the mental state of operation in which the [[person]] is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a [[feeling]] of energized [[focus]], full involvement, and success in the [[process]] of the activity. Proposed by positive psychology  [[Mihály Csíkszentmihályi]], the [[concept]] has been widely referenced across a variety of fields.

'''Flow''' is the mental state of operation in which the [[person]] is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a [[feeling]] of energized [[focus]], full involvement, and success in the [[process]] of the activity. Proposed by positive psychology  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mih%C3%A1ly_Cs%C3%ADkszentmih%C3%A1lyi Mihály Csíkszentmihályi], the [[concept]] has been widely referenced across a variety of fields.

Colloquial terms for this or similar mental states include: to be ''on the ball'', ''in the zone'', or ''in the groove''.

Colloquial terms for this or similar mental states include: to be ''on the ball'', ''in the zone'', or ''in the groove''.

<center>[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&cites=12334528761431366038 Citations of Csíkszentmihályi's 1990 book about flow on Google Scholar]</center>

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Flow''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Flow '''''this link'''''].</center>

== Components of flow ==

== Components of flow ==

Csíkszentmihályi identifies the following nine factors as accompanying an experience of flow:

Csíkszentmihályi identifies the following nine factors as accompanying an experience of flow:

=== Music ===

=== Music ===

Musicians, especially improvisational soloists may experience a similar state of [[mind]] while playing their instrument. [http://books.google.com/books?id=NCySp2NzAm8C&pg=PA119&lpg=PA119&dq=improvisation+flow+Cs%C3%ADkszentmih%C3%A1lyi&source=bl&ots=5pu60NeSsB&sig=KvOLA8xLhIcAbG8rmsQ3MMS1AM8&hl=en&ei=OPGNScDdJ5-stgewlbm8Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result ''The Science & Psychology of Music Performance: Creative Strategies for Teaching and Learning Book'', Oxford University Press US, p. 119.]  

Musicians, especially improvisational soloists may experience a similar state of [[mind]] while playing their instrument. [https://books.google.com/books?id=NCySp2NzAm8C&pg=PA119&lpg=PA119&dq=improvisation+flow+Cs%C3%ADkszentmih%C3%A1lyi&source=bl&ots=5pu60NeSsB&sig=KvOLA8xLhIcAbG8rmsQ3MMS1AM8&hl=en&ei=OPGNScDdJ5-stgewlbm8Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result ''The Science & Psychology of Music Performance: Creative Strategies for Teaching and Learning Book'', Oxford University Press US, p. 119.]  

=== Sports ===

=== Sports ===

The concept of "being in the zone" during an athletic performance fits within Csíkszentmihályi's description of the Flow experience, and theories and applications of  "being in the zone" and its relationship with athletic competitive advantage are topics studied in the field osport psychology.[http://www.athleticinsight.com/Vol1Iss3/Empirical_Zone.htm]

The concept of "being in the zone" during an athletic performance fits within Csíkszentmihályi's description of the Flow experience, and theories and applications of  "being in the zone" and its relationship with athletic competitive advantage are topics studied in the field osport psychology.[https://www.athleticinsight.com/Vol1Iss3/Empirical_Zone.htm]

   

   

Timothy Gallwey's influential works on the ''inner game'' of sports such as golf and tennis described the mental coaching and attitudes which were required to get into the zone and so fully internalise mastery of the sport.

Timothy Gallwey's influential works on the ''inner game'' of sports such as golf and tennis described the mental coaching and attitudes which were required to get into the zone and so fully internalise mastery of the sport.

For millennia, practitioners of Eastern religions such as [[Hinduism]], [[Buddha|Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]] have honed the [[discipline]] of overcoming the duality of self and object as a central feature of [[spiritual]] development.  Eastern spiritual practitioners have developed a very thorough and holistic set of theories around overcoming duality of self and object, tested and refined through spiritual practice instead of the systematic rigor and controls of modern [[science]].

For millennia, practitioners of Eastern religions such as [[Hinduism]], [[Buddha|Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]] have honed the [[discipline]] of overcoming the duality of self and object as a central feature of [[spiritual]] development.  Eastern spiritual practitioners have developed a very thorough and holistic set of theories around overcoming duality of self and object, tested and refined through spiritual practice instead of the systematic rigor and controls of modern [[science]].

The phrase "being at one with [[things]]" is a metaphor of Csíkszentmihályi's Flow concept.Practitioners of the varied schools of [[Zen Buddhism]] apply concepts similar to Flow to aid their mastery of [[art]] forms, including, in the case of Japanese Zen Buddhism, [[Aikido]], [[Kendo]] and [[Ikebana]]. In [[Yoga|yogic]] [[tradition]]s such as [[Raja Yoga]] reference is made to a state of "flow" in the practice of [[Samyama]], a psychological absorption in the object of meditation.[http://books.google.com/books?id=aUZBqTKTAfIC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=samyama+japan+koan&source=bl&ots=9NmvXYZlK0&sig=Q3UMX0nQDHLWs68I5FG0EaFBQb0#PPA26,M1]  

The phrase "being at one with [[things]]" is a metaphor of Csíkszentmihályi's Flow concept.Practitioners of the varied schools of [[Zen Buddhism]] apply concepts similar to Flow to aid their mastery of [[art]] forms, including, in the case of Japanese Zen Buddhism, [[Aikido]], [[Kendo]] and [[Ikebana]]. In [[Yoga|yogic]] [[tradition]]s such as [[Raja Yoga]] reference is made to a state of "flow" in the practice of [[Samyama]], a psychological absorption in the object of meditation.[https://books.google.com/books?id=aUZBqTKTAfIC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=samyama+japan+koan&source=bl&ots=9NmvXYZlK0&sig=Q3UMX0nQDHLWs68I5FG0EaFBQb0#PPA26,M1]  

=== Gaming ===

=== Gaming ===

Game designers, particularly video and computer games, benefit from integration of Flow principles into gameplay design. [http://www.jenovachen.com/flowingames/introduction.htm Flow in Games]

Game designers, particularly video and computer games, benefit from integration of Flow principles into gameplay design. [https://www.jenovachen.com/flowingames/introduction.htm Flow in Games]

=== Professions and work ===

=== Professions and work ===

Developers of computer software reference getting into a flow state, sometimes referred to as the "Zone" or "Hackmode" [http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/hack-mode.html "Hackmode"], , when developing in an undistracted state. Stock market operators often use the term "in the pipe" to describe the psychological state of flow when trading during high volume days and market corrections.

Developers of computer software reference getting into a flow state, sometimes referred to as the "Zone" or "Hackmode" [https://catb.org/jargon/html/H/hack-mode.html "Hackmode"], , when developing in an undistracted state. Stock market operators often use the term "in the pipe" to describe the psychological state of flow when trading during high volume days and market corrections.

==Quote==

==Quote==

# Csíkszentmihályi, Mihály (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper and Row. ISBN 0-06-092043-2.  

# Csíkszentmihályi, Mihály (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper and Row. ISBN 0-06-092043-2.  

# Parncutt, Richard & McPherson, Gary E. (2002) The Science & Psychology of Music Performance: Creative Strategies for Teaching and Learning Book, Oxford University Press US, p. 119. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.

# Parncutt, Richard & McPherson, Gary E. (2002) The Science & Psychology of Music Performance: Creative Strategies for Teaching and Learning Book, Oxford University Press US, p. 119. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.

# Janet A Young, Michelle D Pain. "The Zone: Evidence of a Universal Phenomenon for Athletes Across Sports". http://www.athleticinsight.com/Vol1Iss3/Empirical_Zone.htm. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.  

# Janet A Young, Michelle D Pain. "The Zone: Evidence of a Universal Phenomenon for Athletes Across Sports". https://www.athleticinsight.com/Vol1Iss3/Empirical_Zone.htm. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.  

# Timothy Galwey (1976). Inner Tennis - Playing the Game.  

# Timothy Galwey (1976). Inner Tennis - Playing the Game.  

# Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (1988) Optimal Experience: Psychological Studies of Flow in Consciousness. Cambridge, NY: Cambridge University Press. 323.

# Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (1988) Optimal Experience: Psychological Studies of Flow in Consciousness. Cambridge, NY: Cambridge University Press. 323.

# Hunter, Jeremy, and Csikszentmihalyi (2000)”The Phenomenology of Body-Mind: The Contrasting Cases of Flow in Sports and Contemplation. Anthropology of Consciousness, Vol. 11 No. 3-4 p. 15.

# Hunter, Jeremy, and Csikszentmihalyi (2000)”The Phenomenology of Body-Mind: The Contrasting Cases of Flow in Sports and Contemplation. Anthropology of Consciousness, Vol. 11 No. 3-4 p. 15.

# Yoga Sutras 3.9-3.16: Witnessing Subtle Transitions with Samyama -- http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-30916.htm

# Yoga Sutras 3.9-3.16: Witnessing Subtle Transitions with Samyama -- https://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-30916.htm

# Sansonese, J. Nigro (1994). The Body of Myth: Mythology, Shamanic Trance, and the Sacred Geography of the Body. Inner Traditions. ISBN 9780892814091. Source: [1] (accessed: Friday March 6, 2009), p.26.

# Sansonese, J. Nigro (1994). The Body of Myth: Mythology, Shamanic Trance, and the Sacred Geography of the Body. Inner Traditions. ISBN 9780892814091. Source: [1] (accessed: Friday March 6, 2009), p.26.

# Chen, J. (2008) Flow in Games Retrieved on 2008/05/16.

# Chen, J. (2008) Flow in Games Retrieved on 2008/05/16.

# http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/hack-mode.html "Hackmode", Jargon File

# https://catb.org/jargon/html/H/hack-mode.html "Hackmode", Jargon File

===Notations===

===Notations===

* Csíkszentmihályi, Mihály (1996). ''Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention''. New York: Harper Perennial. ISBN 0-06-092820-4

* Csíkszentmihályi, Mihály (1996). ''Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention''. New York: Harper Perennial. ISBN 0-06-092820-4

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.butler-bowdon.com/flow.html ''Flow''] - A commentary on Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's classic work by Tom Butler-Bowdon.

* [https://www.butler-bowdon.com/flow.html ''Flow''] - A commentary on Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's classic work by Tom Butler-Bowdon.

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXIeFJCqsPs&feature=related Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Creativity, fulfillment and flow] YouTube video of presentation at the TED conference.

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXIeFJCqsPs&feature=related Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Creativity, fulfillment and flow] YouTube video of presentation at the TED conference.

* [http://www.jenovachen.com/flowingames/abstract.htm flOw] A flash based implementation of flow theory and immersion in a game format.

* [https://www.jenovachen.com/flowingames/abstract.htm flOw] A flash based implementation of flow theory and immersion in a game format.

* [http://www.archetypewriting.com/articles/articles_ck/muse_block_ckFlowArticle.htm Archetype Writing] The Right-Brain/Left-Brain Myth and Flow looks at the neurology behind flow.

* [https://www.archetypewriting.com/articles/articles_ck/muse_block_ckFlowArticle.htm Archetype Writing] The Right-Brain/Left-Brain Myth and Flow looks at the neurology behind flow.

* [http://www.meaningandhappiness.com/zone-enjoyment-creativity-elements-flow/26/ "In the zone": enjoyment, creativity, and the nine elements of "flow"]

* [https://www.meaningandhappiness.com/zone-enjoyment-creativity-elements-flow/26/ "In the zone": enjoyment, creativity, and the nine elements of "flow"]

* [http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com/News/030404.htm Finding Flow in Writing] by Tracy Steen, Ph.D.

* [https://www.abdsurvivalguide.com/News/030404.htm Finding Flow in Writing] by Tracy Steen, Ph.D.

* [http://www.flowtheory.com/ FlowTheory.com] An MSc dissertation exploring the importance of website usability from a business perspective; contains a section on flow.

* [https://www.flowtheory.com/ FlowTheory.com] An MSc dissertation exploring the importance of website usability from a business perspective; contains a section on flow.

[[Category: Psychology]]

[[Category: Psychology]]