Flow and the foundations of positive psychology

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology The Collected Works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology The Collected Works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi 123 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Division of Behavioral & Organizational Science Claremont Graduate University Claremont, CA USA This volume contains prepublished material Name of the set: The Collected Works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi ISBN set: 978-94-017-9083-3 ISBN 978-94-017-9087-1 ISBN 978-94-017-9088-8 DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-9088-8 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg New York London (eBook) Library of Congress Control Number: 2014938478 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 This work is subject to copyright All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) Contents Attention and the Holistic Approach to Behavior The Need for a New Approach Consciousness and Attention Attention and Optimal Functioning Pathology and Attention Attention and Socialization Attention and Social Systems Summary and Conclusions References 1 11 13 15 17 19 The Experience Sampling Method Description of the Method Findings Obtained with the Method Limitations and Prospects of the Method References 21 23 27 32 32 Validity and Reliability of the Experience-Sampling Method Sampling of Experience Methods Instruments Experience-Sampling Form (ESF) Procedures Coding Data Structure Compliance Reliability of ESM Measures Sampling Accuracy Stability of Activity Estimates Stability of Psychological States Individual Consistency Over the Week Individual Consistency Over Two Years Internal Consistency 35 36 37 37 38 39 39 40 41 42 42 43 43 44 45 45 v vi Contents Validity of ESM Measures Situational Validity Individual Characteristics and Variation in Experience Differences in Experience Between Groups Overview Appendix: Experience-Sampling Form References 46 46 47 48 48 50 52 The Experience of Freedom in Daily Life Method Sample Procedures Instrument Results Representativeness of Daily Activity Patterns The Experience of Freedom in Different Activities Sex and Occupational Differences in Perceived Freedom Daily Variation in Perceived Freedom Skills and Perceived Freedom Freedom and Intrinsic Motivation Discussion References 55 56 56 57 57 61 61 63 64 64 65 65 66 67 The Situational and Personal Correlates of Happiness: A Cross-National Comparison Introduction The Measurement of Happiness Happiness and Subjective Well-Being The Conditions of Happiness Differences Between Happy and Less Happy Individuals: External Events and Subjective Interpretation Method Subjects Data Procedure Coding Results The Correlations of Happiness and Other Dimensions of Experience The General Level of Happiness Activities and Happiness Companions and Happiness Flow Experience and Happiness 69 69 70 70 71 72 73 73 74 74 74 76 76 78 78 80 81 Contents vii Joint Effects of Channels and Activities on Happiness Joint Effect of Companions and Channels on Happiness Differences Between Happy and Less Happy Teenagers Conclusion References 82 83 84 85 86 Happiness in Everyday Life: The Uses of Experience Sampling Method The Participants Measures Momentary Changes in Happiness Person-Level Correlates of Happiness Discussion References 89 91 91 92 92 95 98 100 Television as Escape: Subjective Experience Before an Evening of Heavy Viewing Method Procedure The Self-report Form The Sample Reliability and Validity Data Analysis Procedure Selecting Observations for a Heavy or Light Television Night Results Before a Heavy or Light TV Night Subjective Experience During a Heavy Night of Viewing Discussion References 103 104 104 105 106 106 107 107 108 108 108 110 110 113 113 116 117 122 124 Happiness 127 128 128 129 129 132 133 Energy Consumption in Leisure and Perceived Methods The Experience Sampling Method Variables Results Summary and Conclusions References Measuring Intrinsic Motivation in Everyday Life Introduction Sample and Method Results Discussion and Conclusions References viii 10 Play and Intrinsic Rewards The Flow Experience Elements of the Flow Experience Merging Action and Awareness Centering of Attention Loss of Ego Control of Action and Environment Demands for Action and Clear Feedback Autotelic Nature of Flow The Structure of Flow Activities Summary and Discussion References Contents 135 136 138 138 139 141 142 144 145 146 150 151 11 Motivation and Creativity: Towards a Synthesis of Structural and Energistic Approaches to Cognition Is Creativity Nothing but Problem Solving? Problem Finding as the Hallmark of Creativity The Limits of Structural Models of Cognition The Energistic Dimension: Attention and Psychic Energy What the Energistic Perspective Adds to the Study of Creativity Interest Perseverance Dissatisfaction Social Context The Uses of Psychic Energy in Everyday Life Conclusions References 155 155 156 158 160 162 162 163 164 164 166 169 171 12 The Dynamics of Intrinsic Motivation: A Study of Adolescents A Brief History Motivation as the Ordering of Psychic Energy The Role of Intrinsic Motivation A Theoretical Model of Intrinsic Motivation The Measurement of Flow in Everyday Life Flow and Motivation in Adolescence Discussion Future Directions in the Study of Intrinsic Motivation The Need for a Concept of Intrinsic Motivation References 175 175 177 180 182 184 187 189 191 194 195 13 Emerging Goals and the Self-Regulation of Behavior Where Do Goals Come From? Emotions Determine Goals, not Vice Versa 199 199 200 Contents The Nature of Positive Affect The Nature of Goal Directed Behavior The Relationship Between Goals and the Self Conflict Among Goals References ix 203 204 205 206 207 14 Toward a Psychology of Optimal Experience Limiting Conditions on the Integrity of Experience The Subjective Experience of Flow Social Structure and Flow Flow and the Self Temporary Conclusions References 209 210 214 218 221 223 225 15 Flow A General Context for a Concept of Mastery Motivation The Nature of Flow The Merging of Action and Awareness A Sense of Control Altered Sense of Time The Conditions of Flow Flow and Motivation Flow and Competence Motivation Emergent Motivation Conclusions References 227 227 230 230 231 231 232 233 233 234 235 236 16 The Concept of Flow Introduction Optimal Experience and Its Role in Development The Flow Concept Flow, Attention, and the Self Flow, Complexity, and Development The Autotelic Personality Measuring Flow and Autotelic Personality Measuring Flow Interview Questionnaire The Experience Sampling Method Measuring the Autotelic Personality Recent Directions in Flow Research Consequences of Flow The Nature and Dynamics of Flow Obstacles and Facilitators to Flow 239 239 239 239 242 244 244 245 245 246 246 247 248 249 249 250 252 x Contents Preference for Relaxation Versus Flow Attitudes Toward Work and Play Autotelic Personality Autotelic Families Interventions and Programs to Foster Flow Directions for Future Research Autotelic Personality: Attentional Processes and Meaningful Goals Measurement of Flow Forms of Flow Conclusions References 17 Flow with Soul Flow for Evolution Evolving Complexity The Cutting Edge 18 Positive Psychology: An Introduction About this Issue Evolutionary Perspectives Positive Personal Traits Implications for Mental and Physical Fostering Excellence Challenges for the Future The Calculus of Well-Being The Development of Positivity Neuroscience and Heritability Enjoyment Versus Pleasure Collective Well-Being Authenticity Buffering Descriptive or Prescriptive Realism Conclusions References 252 252 253 254 254 256 257 258 258 259 260 265 272 274 277 Health 279 285 286 287 289 290 292 292 293 293 293 294 294 294 295 295 295 297 .. .Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology The Collected Works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi... Toward a Psychology of Optimal Experience Limiting Conditions on the Integrity of Experience The Subjective Experience of Flow Social Structure and Flow Flow and the. .. in its fifth year, the program is thriving: with the support of the University we have added several new positions, and with the help of the Dean of the xxiv Introduction to the Volume School,