The Flow Rendezvous: Where Flow and Reality Meet

Murray State's Digital Commons Integrated Studies Center for Adult and Regional Education Fall 2019 The Flow Rendezvous: Where Flow and Reality Meet Derrick Thomas [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/bis437 Recommended Citation Thomas, Derrick, "The Flow Rendezvous: Where Flow and Reality Meet" (2019). Integrated Studies. 247. https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/bis437/247 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Adult and Regional Education at Murray State's Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Integrated Studies by an authorized administrator of Murray State's Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Running head: THE FLOW RENDEZVOUS 1 The Flow Rendezvous: Where Flow and Reality Meet Derrick W. Thomas Murray State University Running head: THE FLOW RENDEZVOUS 2 Abstract This paper explores many published journal articles and one outstanding book which reported and conducted research on the phenomenon of flow. Flow captures the positive mental state of being completely absorbed, focused, and involved in your activities at a certain point in time, as well as having a feeling of enjoyment from being engaged in that activity. The articles detail the findings of the research conducted on flow in regards to the validity of flow, if it can be measured, how it could be measured, and various examples of the state. Each of the articles have a similar definition of the zone and describe it in a standardized manner. Most of the articles, as well as the book, The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Perforce, reference the works of Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who pioneered the early research in this field. This paper examines the correlation between mind and body, and what is needed to reach this elusive state in order to produce one’s own and group peek performance. This paper will also point to additional research needed to better understand the phenomenon of flow and how it can be better utilized. Running head: THE FLOW RENDEZVOUS 3 The zone/flow describes feats of incredible physical and mental prowess. I will give examples of these feats from different genres. The examples will come from many different sports and certain performing arts. I will explain how one’s mental fortitude correlates with his or her ability to perform at their peak. It has been argued if the zone is actually a phenomena, and if it is even measurable in the world of sports phycology. It is important to determine if the zone exist, and if it is measurable as its validity could ensure physical and mental practitioners of art and sport function at their peak potential. I was an athlete growing up. I played basketball and ran track in high school, and was decent at both. Throughout my high school athletics career there were a couple of times when I felt unstoppable on the basketball court, and a period of time when I felt no one could jump higher than me in the high jump event in track and field. It was an exhilarating feeling, but I could not explain it. I attended high school from 1988 until 1992, which was an unbelievable era in sports. Some of the great athletes of this time were Carl Lewis – track and field, Jackie Joyner- Kersee – track and field, Michael Jordan – basketball, Wayne Gretzky – hockey, Karch Kiraly – volleyball, Roy Jones Jr. - ,boxing, Ken Griffey Jr. – baseball, and Bo Jackson – football. There have been thousands of athletes who have been in the zone/flow. Professional athletes, who at one time or another felt as if they could not miss a shot, made every putt, stuck out every batter, knocked out every opponent they face, Ect. This flow state does not only happen in sports, but it has translated to the performing arts as well. Running head: THE FLOW RENDEZVOUS 4 There have been many definitions of state known as the zone or flow. According to Wasiak 2011, “Flow is characterized by intense concentration and intrinsic motivation. In a flow state, self-consciousness disappears and the sense of time is distorted (Time flies when you're having fun!). The activity produces such intrinsic gratification that people are willing to do it for its own sake, with little concern for extrinsic rewards (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997).” “It includes feeling a sense of control, having a high level of concentration on the work performed, enjoying cognitive pleasure, and having harmony between the skills and the performed tasks (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990), states Cakmak et al., 2015. According to Bloom and Skutnick-Henley, who quote Csikszentmihalyi , “the term "flow" refers to a state of focused absorption--a merging of action and awareness--where consciousness, mind and body become harmoniously directed, without indecision or anxiety. Analogous terms for flow include attaining a "state of chi," (2) as well as being in "the zone" (athletics), being in "ecstasy" (religious mysticism) and being in "aesthetic rapture" (artists and musicians).” Dillon and Tait stated, “Prebish (1993) likens the state achieved by athletes to a peak experience in which total engrossment, effortlessness, and transcendence of self can be achieved independent of performance.” To continue to define the event of being in the zone/flow, Sodhi, Luthra, and Mehta stated, “the holistic sensation that people feel when they act with total involvement." He believed it to be the mental state wherein an activity becomes autotelic, or worth doing for its own sake, rather than a means towards the achievement of some other larger goal. According to him, this only occurs in situations where individuals perform activities right at the edge of their abilities; that is the point when the challenge provided by the activity and the individual's skill to counter this challenge are balanced so that they are able to just control the situation” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975). Running head: THE FLOW RENDEZVOUS 5 According to Turaga, 2018, “Flow is generally regarded as the state of mind in which a person doing any task is completely immersed in feelings of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the task. A 'flow state' is the experience of being fully engaged with what one is doing in that moment.” Hagevik, 1999 stated, “In a book called Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experiences, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (he prefers to be called Mike) defines flow as a distinctive state of mind and feeling in which learning is effortless and delightful. It's being swept away - so consumed and so fulfilled that one experiences joy. It's the state in which learning and happiness are most completely merged.” Much of the research conducted for this project stems back to Csikszentmihalyi’s early and most recent works. In an interview and according to How to Find Flow, when speaking of flow, Csikszentmihalyi stated, “ It essentially says that people who seem to feel most positive about their lives possess a set of common characteristics, such as knowing clearly what they have to do, getting feedback on what they are doing, and being able to match their abilities with the opportunities for action so that skills and challenges are in balance. When those characteristics are present, people begin to concentrate very highly. As a result they forget the problems of everyday life, and they seem to step into a kind of alternative reality. That consolidation of characteristics is what I call the "flow experience." According to Lee, “Csikszentmihalyi was professor of human development at the University of Chicago and currently is the Davidson Professor of Management at Claremont Graduate University in California. In the opinion of Multiple Intelligence Theorist Howard Gardner, his work is "profound and pathbreaking." It is also at the very core of success in our chosen profession. The thrust of the thesis is that many of us spend much of our day either bored or anxious, and by studying the characteristics of those who are in a "state of flow," we may Running head: THE FLOW RENDEZVOUS 6 increase our ability to enjoy our lives.” Lee, goes on to say the following about Csikszentmihalyi and his perception of flow, “In Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience--Steps Toward Enhancing the Quality of Life, by Harper & Row Publishers, Csikszentmihalyi summarizes the characteristics of flow. He elaborates on the details of the flow experience: The sense of self emerges stronger after the flow experience is over. The duration of time is altered, hours pass by in minutes. The combination of all these elements causes a sense of deep enjoyment that is so rewarding people feel that expending a great deal of energy is worthwhile simply to be able to feel it. Thoughts, intentions, feelings and all the senses are focused on the same goal. Experience is in harmony. And when the flow episode is over, one feels more "together" than he, re, not only internally but also with respect to other people and to the world in general. It is when we act freely, for the sake of the action itself rather than for ulterior motives, that we learn to become more than what we were. When we choose a goal and invest ourselves in it to the limits of our concentration, whatever we do will be enjoyable. And once we have tasted this joy, we will redouble our efforts to taste it again.” I read an article called, “Toward a Conceptual Understanding on the Flow Experience in Elite Athletes,” by Susan A. Jackson. The issue discussed in this particular article was the existence of flow state, which according to Jackson, is defined as “a valued experience and source of motivation for many individuals undertaking physical activity, whether it be in high- level competitive sport or a fitness endeavor.

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