psychology

L03 Leisure and Flow Overlap There is significant overlap between flow

and leisure. Here are some potential

relationships between flow and leisure:

Leisure and flow are intrinsically

motivated. In both cases, participants

are driven by the desire to gain

internal satisfaction from the activity,

rather than some sort of external

reward (e.g. money, fame, etc.).

This idea of intrinsic motivation is also related to skill. Flow requires a high degree of

skill, and we are most likely to develop a high level of skill in activities that we enjoy

and are intrinsically motivated to pursue, leisure activities.

The nature of flow is also potentially addictive. Individuals may chase these peak

experiences again and again. Once someone has gotten a taste of what it is like to

operate at peak and to achieve a personal best, it can be difficult to step back from

the sensation. Many of the people who engage in potentially risky leisure pursuits –

for example, base jumping, high-altitude mountaineering, or BMX biking – do so

because they are trying to achieve a flow state. For many, these experiences are

rewarding; for some, they end in injury or even death.

Both leisure and flow take an individual outside the every day experience. Through

both flow and leisure, one can break free of the repetitive, mundane experiences

that typify day-in-day-out existence.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. Also, as a reminder, the subjective nature of

leisure means that everyone identifies, values, and engages in leisure in a personal

fashion.

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