Flow
Jeanne Nakamura, Dwight C.K. Tse, Shannon Shankland
The Oxford Handbook of Human Motivation September 12, 2019 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190666453.013.10 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Argues that flow is an autotelic state that intrinsically motivates engagement in conducive activities, and synthesizes research on its dimensions, correlates, and neurophysiology. |
Abstract
Flow is an optimal psychological state characterized by the enjoyment of deep absorption in what one is doing. This psychological state is autotelic (i.e., rewarding in itself); experiencing flow intrinsically motivates individuals to engage in activities that are conducive to it. Research on the flow experience has shed light on the phenomenology of intrinsic motivation since Csikszentmihalyi (1975) first introduced the flow concept. This chapter (a) describes the dimensions and conditions of the flow experience, (b) reviews research on its psychological covariates, (c) highlights conceptual and operational differences among four flow-related constructs, (d) discusses theory and research on the temporal dynamics of flow experience, and (e) summarizes research on the neurophysiology of the flow state.