Flow theory – goal orientation theory: positive experience is related to athlete’s goal orientation

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between flow experience and goal orientation theory, as well as, the differences in flow experience based on the orthogonal model of goal orientation theory. Two hundred and seventy eight athletes completed the Task and Ego Orientation Sport Questionnaire based on how they usually feel. The challenge and skills ratings were completed 1 h before the competition, based on how they felt at the exact time of answering. In the following, the Flow State Scale-2 was completed up to 30 min after the competition they just participated, along with the challenge-skill ratings, based on how athletes felt during the competition. The results indicated that the athletes’ task orientation may be an important factor for attaining flow in competitive sport, feeling more skillful and estimating the upcoming competition as challenging, while low ego and low task oriented athletes lack these elements, which are important for them to get into flow. Additionally, not the level of task and ego orientation per se, but the balance between athletes’ goal orientation preferences seems important for the formation of flow experience, indicating that high task – high ego and high task – low ego athletes are experiencing the most positive mental state.

A Review of Scientific Progress in Flow in Sport and Exercise: Normal Science, Crisis, and a Progressive Shift

“…For example, effective preparation is simply associated with flow occurrence, but not necessarily involved as a causal mechanism, as flow may still occur in its absence (Swann et al, 2012). In addition to qualitative work, extensive research on flow using questionnaire-based, correlational designs has further highlighted associations with flow (e.g., goal orientations -Stavrou et al, 2015). Thus, research on flow occurrence to date is primarily based on evidence of constructs associated with flow, rather than causal mechanisms, resulting in recent calls for the need to build towards a causal explanation of flow (Kimiecik & Stein, 1992;Swann, Crust, & Vella, 2017).…”

“…For example, Csikszentmihalyi (1975) originally described flow as a "theoretical model of enjoyment" (pp.35-54), and discussed the "model of flow" (p.49), while later referring to "flow theory" (e.g., Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi, 2009). In sport and exercise, researchers refer to the "flow model" (e.g., Koehn et al, 2013) and "flow theory" (e.g., Stavrou et al, 2015). Generally, challenge-skill balance has been considered the primary condition for flow occurrence (see Fong, Zaleski & Leach, 2015), and a number of models based on challenge-skill balance have emerged and evolved since Csikszentmihalyi"s (1975) initial work.…”

Exploring athletes' perceptions of the relationship between mental toughness and dispositional flow in sport

“…Specifically, self-referenced appraisals of competence and success (e.g., personal improvement) represent task orientation, while defining success in normative terms (e.g., winning) symbolises ego orientation. Goal orientations are considered to be orthogonal rather than bipolar and an examination of their relationship to state flow found that high taskhigh ego and high tasklow ego athletes experienced significantly higher flow characteristics than low tasklow ego and low taskhigh ego athletes (Stavrou, Psychountaki, Georgiadis, Karteroliotis, & Zervas, 2015).…”

Perfiles de orientación hacia la meta y su relación con indicadores de actividad físico-deportiva

“…En estas circunstancias, tiene lugar la aparición de conductas de logro negativas tales como un nivel de ejecución inferior al esperado, una disminución en el esfuerzo invertido o una falta de persistencia ante la presencia de obstáculos y dificultades (Duda & Nicholls, 1992;Stavrou, Psychountaky, Georgiadis, Karteroliotis, & Zervas, 2015). No obstante, Wang et al (2002) plantearon la posibilidad de que la orientación hacia el ego, pero no la orientación hacia la meta, interactuase con la percepción de competencia de un individuo.…”