Flow by Mihalyi Csikszentmahalyi

Post date: Feb 11, 2015 12:40:07 PM

Book

Review

This is not only a fascinating and challenging read, Flow is also a highly influential theory in the world of positive psychology. Csikszentmihalyi proposes that flow (the experience of complete immersion in an activity) brings a satisfying enjoyment to our lives, and combats psychic entropy (the mental state in which anxiety and negativity bubble to the surface). Happiness is found, he proposes, not by searching for it, but through meaningful activity and the experience of flow.

Csikszentmihalyi developed his theory of 'optimal experience' based on the concept of 'flow', and tested it through studies, using his 'Experience Sampling Method' in which people recorded what they were doing and how they were feeling whenever an electronic pager emitted a signal.

'The optimal state of inner experience is one in which there is order in consciousness. This happens when psychic energy – or attention – is invested in realistic goals, and when skills match the opportunities for action. The pursuit of a goal brings order in awareness because a person must concentrate attention on the task at hand and momentarily forget everything else. These periods of struggling to overcome challenges are what people find to be the most enjoyable times of their lives.' (p6)

'Psychic entropy' is an uncomfortable state we all experience when our minds are not occupied, allowing our worries and concerns to surface. It is the nature of our brain's evolution that we are constantly searching and checking our environment for threats and potential dangers – so our minds readily settle on the real or potential difficulties in our modern daily lives. In order to avoid this uncomfortable state our tendency is to keep our minds busy through external stimuli (watching TV, drinking wine). Csikszentmihaly suggests we can overcome this psychic entropy if we focus our attention on creating opportunities to experience flow.

Flow experiences occur when we have a realistic chance of completing the task we set ourselves, and we have the opportunity to fully concentrate on it. We need to have clear aims (goals) and objectives (sub-goals) so that we can recognise and monitor our progress (feedback). In this state time passes almost unnoticed, and all thought (with no room for our worries and troubles) is occupied by the task, which we carry out unselfconsciously. Once the task is completed we feel satisfied with it and with ourselves – it is deeply rewarding. We will all recognise this state, and studies have shown that we all describe it similarly although the activities through which we experience it may be very different (rock-climbing, dancing, listening to music, reading, writing, playing a musical instrument, playing tennis, playing a computer game).

Csikszentmihalyi's studies have revealed that flow is experienced at work more often than during leisure time, although we appear to place a higher value on the flow experiences we have in our leisure time. He proposes that we should adapt what we do (at work and in our leisure time) to increase our opportunities to experience flow – directing our energies to that end. One of the important aspects of flow experience is that the activities should be ones we are intrinsically motivated to do – not activities we 'have' to do or feel we 'ought' to do. When (as with work, household chores etc) there are tasks/activities we do have to do, then we can apply the principles of flow theory in order to make the tasks more enjoyable.

'To many people activities like working or raising children provide more flow than playing a game or painting a picture, because these people have learned to perceive opportunities in such mundane tasks that others do not see.' (p76)

The ultimate goal, he concludes, is 'transforming the entirety of life into a single flow activity, with unified goals that provide constant purpose' (p213).

Academic interest

This important book explains one of the tenets of positive psychology. It is based on Csikszentmihalyi's decades of studies on optimal experience and flow. It is accessible and clearly structured, and it contains notes pages for references (aligned to page numbers in the book).

Practitioners

Psychologists may find the detailed explanation of the concept of flow useful, and it offers a deeper understanding of how psychic entropy can potentially be controlled through building flow activities.

Self-helpers

Self-helpers may find the concept of flow and the strategies for achieving flow of some benefit, however this book is not designed to provide exercises or activities to help individuals understand and develop flow.

Best Bits

A salutory reminder that experiencing flow may be good and enjoyable for us as individuals, but it is not inherently good and not always good for others, and so:

'The task is to learn how to enjoy everyday life without diminishing other people's chances to enjoy theirs.' (p70).

Our natural tendency to focus our thoughts on the negatives in our lives is examined, and it is helpful to recognise that we can do something to manage this negative thought pattern:

'Unless a person knows how to give order to his or her thoughts, attention will be attracted to whatever is most problematic at the moment: it will focus on some real or imaginary pain, on recent grudges or long-term frustrations. Entropy is the normal state of consciousness – a condition that is neither useful nor enjoyable.' (p119)

The potential for the application of flow theory to be used for social good:

'Perhaps the most powerful effect flow theory could have in the public sector is in providing a blueprint for how institutions may be reformed so as to make them more conducive to optimal experience.' (p190)

'A community … is good if it offers people a chance to enjoy as many aspects of their lives as possible, while allowing them to develop their potential in the pursuit of even greater challenges.'(p190)

About the author

Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, Professor at Drucher School of Management in California, was formerly Chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago. He has been researching 'flow' for 30 years. He has authored some 18 books, and he worked with Martin Seligman to found positive psychology movement in 2010.

'Flow' first appeared in the USA 1990 as a summary of research the author had published in various obscure academic journals.