Flow Psychological State
A Flow Psychological State is a psychological state measure by a mental attention measure in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.
- AKA: The Zone.
- Context:
- It can be studied of Positive Psychology.
- …
- See: Hyperfocus, Occupational Therapy, East Asian Religions, Delight.
References
2017
- (Wikipedia, 2017) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology) Retrieved:2017-4-7.
- In positive psychology, flow, also known as the zone, is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does.
Named by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields (and has an especially big recognition in occupational therapy), though the concept has existed for thousands of years under other guises, notably in some Eastern religions. Achieving flow is often colloquially referred to as being in the zone.
Flow shares many characteristics with hyperfocus. However, hyperfocus is not always described in a positive light. Some examples include spending "too much" time playing video games or getting side-tracked and pleasurably absorbed by one aspect of an assignment or task to the detriment of the overall assignment. In some cases, hyperfocus can "capture" a person, perhaps causing them to appear unfocused or to start several projects, but complete few.
- In positive psychology, flow, also known as the zone, is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does.
1991
- (Csikszentmihalyi, 1991) ⇒ Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. (1991). “Flow". København: Munksgaard.