Question

Charlene is training for her first "Iron Man" triathlon. She exercises several hours a day, and often says that during the moments of intense exertion she almost loses herself in the effort. "I love exercising so much that it becomes more fun than work." How would Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describe these moments for Charlene?

Answer 1

Answer: Flow (Peak experiences)

Explanation: According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow or Peak experience is a state of consciousness where one's physical and mental abilities are stretched to its limits voluntarily in a quest to overcome something tasking and achieve greatness. In this stage people are at the peak of their abilities and feels that they are capable of anything. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes this as the best moment in a person's life because people find satisfaction in this state.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi would describe these moments for Charlene as finding genuine satisfaction called flow (peak experiences).

Answer 2

Answer: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi would describe these moments for Charlene as her undergoing the "Psychological Process of Flow"

Explanation: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a psycologist from Hungary that identified and formed the Concept of Flow also referred to as being "in the zone"

According to the concept, a person carrying out an activity becomes fully engrossed and focused in that activity that he or she begins to enjoy it and gain fulfillment from it.

The activity referred to here is usually one with a set goal and feedback on the person's performance.

Here, the Flow Concept describes Charlene feeling because;

1. She has a set goal (training for Iron Man triathlon) and

2. She most likely has gotten feedback for her performance (because it's physical exercise, the results on her body would be visible).

So, Charlene's practice exercise for her triathlon has become fun and not just work because she has began to enjoy it and find fulfillment from it.