psychology

L03 Where Flow Happens

Although there is wide-ranging overlap between leisure and flow, there is also significant

nuance in this relationship. Specifically, some leisure activities are more likely to result in

a flow experience than others.

Interestingly, video games may be one of the leisure activities that are most likely to

result in a flow experience. This has to do with the need for congruence between

challenge and skill. Video games are an artificial, designed environment that can ramp-

up or turn-down difficulty depending on the skill of the participant.

On the other end of the spectrum, television viewing, or related activities such as online

streaming, is one of the leisure experiences that is least likely to result in a flow

experience. This has to do with the fact that television viewing is a largely passive

activity, both physically and mentally. Participation in television viewing does not require

a great deal of skill and presents very little challenge.

L03 Where Flow Happens: RPTM 120, Section ... https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2069156/p...

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