Psychology
of Aspiration
(Csikszentmihalyi)
FLOW RESEARCH
FLOW
“The state in which people are
so involved in an activity that
nothing else seems to matter;
the experience itself is so
enjoyable that people will do it
even at great cost, for the sheer
sake of doing it.”
_________
so-called “optimal experience,”
or Maslow’s “peak experience,”
or Ellis’ “transformative
experience.”
Eight Components of
FLOW
• The goals of the activity are clear and
not conflicting.
• One receives immediate and clear
feedback during the activity.
• The challenges of the activity are
matched with the skills of the person.
• A feeling of focus and concentration
exists on what is being done.
• One is oblivious to everyday
frustrations.
• A feeling of control over life, actions,
and experiences exists.
• One loses a sense of selfconsciousness. (ego defenses)
• Sense of time is transformed.
FLOW:
AN AUTOTELIC
EXPERIENCE
• The term “autotelic” derives from
two Greek words, “auto” meaning
self, and “telos” meaning goal.
• It refers to a self-contained
activity, one that is done not with
the expectation of some future
benefit, but simply because the
doing itself is the reward.
• Doing something for its own sake
unrelated to focusing on its
consequences.
• Personal: exercising versus
teaching.
• What are “flow” or ”autotelic”
experiences for you?
CSIKSZENTMIHALYI’S TENETS
• Happiness is a condition that
must be prepared for and
cultivated by a person.
• People who learn to control
inner experience will be able to
determine the quality of their
lives, which is about as close
as any of us can come to being
happy.
• Optimal experiences are those
times when we feel in control
of our actions, masters of our
own fate … and when we
experience a deep sense of
exhilaration and deep sense of
joy.
CSIKSZENTMIHALYI’S TENETS
(continued)
• The best moments usually
occur when a person’s body or
mind is stretched to its limits
in a voluntary effort to
accomplish something difficult
and worthwhile.
• Optimal experience is
something we can make
happen.
• In the long run, optimal
experiences are up to a sense
of mastery, or sense of
participation in the
determination of the content of
one’s life.
“Complexity is not only a function
of intelligence, or knowledge … it
includes a person’s feelings and
actions as well. It involves
becoming aware of and in control
of one’s unique potentials, and in
being able to create harmony
between goals and desires,
sensations and experiences.
People who continue this (greater
degrees of complex thinking and
action) are going to have a more
fulfilling and therefore happy life.”
M. Csikszentmihayli
The Evolving Self
Discussion Questions
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The first paragraph defines “flow.” What are flow
experiences for you?
The flow diagram on page 74 illustrates that when
challenges are encountered which are beyond ones
skills, anxiety results; and when ones skills are greater
than the challenge encountered, boredom ensues.
What esperiences in life create anxiety for you? What
bores you?
Csikszentmihalyi says that even though Americans had
plenty of free or leisure time, and amply access to
leisure activities, they do not, as a result, experience
flow often. Why? Do you agree with his perspective
and the reason he gives for it?
Csikszentmihalyi believes that the desire to achieve
optimal experience is the foremost goal of every
human (page 78). He proceeds to suggest this can be
a basis for evaluating social systems. How?
How important is change, and the challenge that
comes with it important to important to you and to your
plan of life?
Csikszentmihalyi suggest that exercise selfconsciousness/self-centerdness interferes with
experiencing flow. Why?
What does Csikzentimahalyi mean by the “autotelic”
personality? Are you an “autotelic” person?
Does Csikzentmihalyi believe that parents can have an
effect on their children being/becoming individuals
who can experience flow? How?
How do you react to Bertrand Russell’s description of
how he achieved personal happiness?