Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Attention.; Personality and creative ability.; Personality--Research.; Work--Psychological aspects;

Abstract

Flow is a state of mind that has been found to occur when people become immersed in a challenging activity that matches or slightly exceeds their skill level. It has been suggested that some people may be more likely to enter this state of mind than others. The purpose of this study was to attempt to identify personality traits common to people who frequently experience flow.

Amount of flow generally experienced in 115 college undergraduates was measured with two modified flow measures, the modified Flow State Scale (FSS) and the modified Flow Descriptions Questionnaire (FDQ). Eight personality characteristics were hypothesized to be associated with scores on both flow questionnaires, for a total of sixteen hypothesized relationships. Personality traits that were found to be related to at least one of the measures of flow were: endurance, achievement, understanding, absorption, stress reaction, and ability to concentrate. When all eight personality measures were combined they were able to account for 14 to 22% of the variance in the flow measures.

Findings lend some support to common personality traits being found in people who frequently experience flow. Additionally, progress was made toward developing a questionnaire to assess general level of flow. Results of this study may be of use in helping therapy clients as well as the general populace to develop a more enjoyable life by pointing out positive ways of viewing the world and interacting with the environment.

Future research should attempt to replicate these results using other measures of flow, as well as examining other personality traits. Also, effort should be put forth on improving measures to assess general level of flow.

Year of Submission

1999

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Psychology

First Advisor

David Whitsett

Comments

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Date Original

1999

Object Description

1 PDF file (101 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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