Mihaly Jackszentmihályi's Flow Theory

Without a healthy active mind, a person has trouble deciding and reasoning on his own. Sergio Petraroja explains that, ¡§the powers issuing in the activities that are characteristically human are the powers of reason and free choice¡¨ (Sergio Petraroja, p. 129). Leisure, which is viewed as a state of mind or a way of perceiving experiences, has five major elements that require the aspects of a healthy mind and body. These include: intrinsic motivation, perceived freedom, perceived competence, flow, and playfulness. Intrinsic motivation refers to self-determined behavior that results in the satisfaction of the individual¡¦s internal needs. This point is more focused on maintaining a healthy mind. A person with a healthy mind has the ability to reason, and therefore can determine what it is that intrinsically motivates him. Perceived freedom requires both a healthy mind and body. If one does not maintain a healthy body through recreation, then that person may see himself as having poor health and not possessing certain abilities that allow him the freedom of participating in activities. Perceived competence is an element that also requires a healthy mind and body. This is evident in that, in order for a person to feel they can do something or perform a task, they must possess the appropriate mental competence and physical competence that the act requires of them. Flow is an element that requires a mental capacity. One must cognitively feel

When having good experiences, most people, if asked, would claim that they feel happy. However, if one decided to ask Martha Nussbaum, author of “Who is the Happy Warrior? Philosophy Poses Questions to Psychology,” she would most likely respond that she was feeling pleasured. In her article, she draws a restrictive line between pleasure and happiness. She introduces the viewpoints of many intellectuals who have spoken on the definition of happiness, and then offers her own opinions in regards to theirs. Her thoughts generally align with those of Aristotle, Plato, and the ancient Greek thinkers – the very ones she spent much of her higher education studying. Her main ideas, that happiness is too complex to be concretely defined and that pleasure is a feeling that we may experience while doing certain things, are well-explained and supported. She offers the idea that happiness is not an emotion – rather, it is a state of being that we should all hope to attain as a result of self-reflection. Nussbaum continually counters the beliefs proposed by psychologists, like the notion that happiness is a one-note feeling, or the concept that happiness is only influenced by positive emotions. In my essay, I will explain how Martha Nussbaum’s explanation of the complexities of happiness is superior, as well as how the ideas of two psychologists, Sonja Lyubomirsky and Daniel Gilbert, are faulty and disreputable. However, it is important to note that just because Nussbaum is the least wrong

[]In “Finding Flow” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi explores the idea of what it means “to live” (544). Csikszentmihalyi compares living with his idea to flow. Throughout the “Finding Flow” excerpt, Csikszentmihalyi discusses the idea of flow is to have a clear and concise goal, provide immediate feedback, and to balance skills and action opportunities (548).

The psychodynamic theory argues that the personality contains three major components. The components are id, ego, and superego. ID is the unrestrained, pleasure-seeking component that a person is born with. Ego develops by living in the world and superego develops by interactions with others. When all three components are well balanced the individual lives a normal life. Now, when they are unbalanced and one

In fact, many times, it is that excitement, that drive and determination leading up to a goal with strong craving that makes someone feel merely happy, however once these objectives are achieved, this so called “happiness” can steadily disappear and become a common occurrence, just a regular part of their reality. Therefore, for this amazing feeling to persist, one must learn to be satisfied with the end achievement in order to allow that great feeling of accomplishment to continue in an everlasting manner. For few, this is a manageable quality to have, however in today’s society as things evolve very rapidly; it is a universal truth to say that for the most part “man is never satisfied.” Everyone searched for a different identity, a different purpose, therefore making happiness an illusion for many, yet also a challenging but attainable result for

The article by Manzano et al, "The psychophysiology of flow during piano playing" attempts to conduct empirical research to validate physiological responses to the concept of flow. Flow is the notion that there are certain exercises that people engage in which are so demanding and enjoyable that their attention level is lowered, and a cognitive form of expertise takes over so that they lose awareness of time and self-consciousness while achieving a high degree of proficiency at that activity. The flow state is defined within the article as one which combines a high state of arousal with a positive valence (Manzano et al, 2010, p. 302).

The article by Manzano et al, "The psychophysiology of flow during piano playing" attempts to conduct empirical research to validate physiological responses to the concept of flow. Flow is the notion that there are certain exercises that people engage in which are so demanding and enjoyable that their attention level is lowered, and a cognitive form of expertise takes over so that they lose awareness of time and self-consciousness while achieving a high degree of proficiency at that activity. The flow state is defined within the article as one which combines a high state of arousal with a positive valence (Manzano et al, 2010, p. 302).

I am planning to write a paper for my Key Assessment Task # 3: Representing My Inquiry, because coming from a Psychology major, I am someone who highly enjoys writing research papers. I often experience flow during these moments. Flow or 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—complete absoprtion” (Wikipedia, 2017, para. 1). Writing research papers is also one of my known strengths throughout high school and university. Therefore, currently, at this stage I am extracting relevant information from the sources. I have a few more articles extract information from and then I will move to the four

of us prefer to be intrinsically motivated. We like to have fun on what we do instead of being

While acknowledging how extreme focus objectively helps to notice more minute details in a very analytical way, leisure brings natural and creative influence to one's character. Taking in the moment as it comes puts of critical thought and allows impressions to simmer and not be cast aside so quickly; things one may have taken for granted can develop into new awareness. Dillard describes this process, "You must allow the muddy river to flow unheeded in the dim channels of consciousness; you raise your sights; you look along it, mildly, acknowledging its presence without interest and gazing beyond it into the realm of the real where subjects and objects act and rest purely" (Dillard 32-33). The ability to take experiences as they come with no instant reaction takes disciplined effort; an attempt to become fully devoted to the truth of the world is not something one can force, but will come to one with control over their mind, regard for their own preconceptions, and openness to new perspectives. Someday, one's curated sense of self will be met with the random winds of all matter and carried aloft in a gust of understanding and universal

Chapter one of Stealing Fire is to lay down the fondation of what they want to build off of in later chapters. The idea of "flow" is a slippery concept to grasp, so the authors need to lay down a basic understanding of what flow is, and why they are trying to learn more about it. They explain ecstacy at work in many different situations and their two biggest examples are the Navy SEALs, who opperate on flow, and the didgital behemoth, Google, which hired a CEO based off his capeabilities at burning man and built a whole building for the purpos of flow. They go on to talk about why flow is so envaluable and it is because workers preform at their peek in a state of flow.

A person’s personality says much about who he or she is. People define personality in different ways. Researcher after researcher has tried to come up with the best definition for what personality truly means. Case studies, correlational studies, and experimental designs are some of the most commonly used methods of research. These methods help better define personality. The advantages and disadvantages of each method differ and can be helpful or hurtful to the research of an individual’s personality.

Human beings have a need for self-actualization that involves growing towards courage, kindness, knowledge, love, honesty, and unselfishness. When we fulfill this need, we feel serene, joyful, filled with zest, sometimes euphoric, and generally happy. When we act contrary to our need for self-actualization, we experience anxiety, despair, boredom, shame, emptiness and are generally unable to enjoy ourselves. (Singer 327-328).

The purpose of this paper is to discuss characteristics of my personality. The main focus of this paper will be how my personality has developed over time. As I age and encounter new and different experiences, my personality has adapted and developed further. This paper will give an in-depth exploration into the people and events that have influenced my personality.

“Thoughts become perception, perception becomes reality. Alter your thoughts, alter your reality” (James “William James Quote”). This sentiment from William James who was a leading philosopher and psychologist at the turn of the 19th Century inspires one to challenge their labeling of a current circumstance, suggesting happiness is a perception that can be manipulated. This mind over matter approach to life’s struggles has become commonplace in the repertoire of motivational speakers, close friends, coaches, and other well-meaning influencers alike. This ambiguous concept has the ability to produce very real consequences, even death. In