Editing Content theory (section)

== Flow theory ==
Flow theory refers to desirable subjective state a person experiences when completely involved in some challenging activity that matches the individual's skills.<ref name=":6">{{cite book |title = Motivation: biological, psychological, environmental |last = Lambert. |first = Deckers |date = 2014 |publisher = Pearson |isbn = 978-1-292-02799-9 |oclc = 1040982893 }}</ref>

[[Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi]] described Flow theory as "A state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it."<ref name=":7">{{cite news|url=https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-father-of-flow/|title=Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: All About Flow & Positive Psychology|date=2016-12-16|access-date=2018-11-10|language=en-US}}</ref>

The idea of flow theory was first conceptualized by Csikszentmihalyi. Flow in the context of motivation can be seen as an activity that is not too hard, frustrating or madding, or too easy boring and done too fast. If one has achieved perfect flow, then the activity has reached maximum potential.<ref name=":7" />

Flow is a part of something called positive psychology of the psychology of happiness. Positive psychology looks into what makes a person happy. Flow can be considered as achieving happiness or at the very least positive feelings. A study that was published in the journal ''[[Emotion (journal)|Emotion]]'' looked at flow experienced in college students playing [[Tetris]]. The students that were being evaluated on looks then told to wait and play Tetris. There were three categories; Easy, normal, and hard. The students that played Tetris on normal level experienced flow and were less stressed about the evaluation.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/05/662212524/cant-stop-worrying-try-tetris-to-ease-your-mind |title = Can't Stop Worrying? Try Tetris To Ease Your Mind |work = NPR.org |access-date = 2018-11-10 |language = en }}</ref>

Csikszentmihalyi describes 8 characteristics of flow as - the complete concentration on the task, clarity of goals and reward in mind and immediate feedback, transformation of time (speeding up/slowing down of time), the experience is intrinsically rewarding, effortlessness and ease, a balance between challenge and skills, merged actions and awareness, loss of self-conscious rumination and a feeling of control over the task.<ref name=":7" />

The activity no longer becomes something seen as a means to an end and it becomes something an individual wants to do. This can be seen as someone who likes to run for the sheer joy of running and not because they need to do it for exercise or because they want to brag about it. Peak flow can be different for each person. It could take an individual years to reach flow or only moments. If an individual becomes too good at an activity they can become bored. If the challenge becomes too hard then the individual could become discouraged and want to quit.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/one-among-many/201502/flow-and-happiness |title = Flow and Happiness |website = Psychology Today |language = en-US |access-date = 2018-11-10 }}</ref>