It’s important that Joe Maroon identified neurotransmitters other than just dopamine. Many people trivialize and dismiss peak experiences, such as Flow, by saying: “You’re getting a hit of dopamine”. Joe has indicated that there’s so much more operating when we experience Flow. It is not just a pleasurable experience. Many functional operations are taking place.
Another member of this Forum, Jeremy Fish, added to Joe Maroon’s list and reflects on the Flow experience:
“I think the alpha and theta brain waves dominate during Flow states. So, Flow might be on the spectrum with meditation. However, Flow would be more active. It’s fascinating because I think all of us have had Flow experiences, and, for many of us, these are peak experiences. I’m sure Flow occurs during my triathlons, I have Flow during my time of running time, and during my cycling. These and other sports tend to be where I experience Flow the most. I think that’s something to keep in mind, because I do think we overestimate that it only happens to elite athletes, you know. But we used to call it “a runner’s high” when I was in high school. We said, “Yeah, I had a runner’s high.” For me, there was an aura of time stopping as I kept running. I had as much energy as I’ve ever had in my life. I remember talking about my runner’s high with my friends in high school. We had no idea what Flow was, but we had heard of and experienced a runner’s high.”
Much is going on when we are in a Flow state. That may be why Flow seems very compelling. During our Forum discussion about Flow the following observations were made:
“You would think people would want to increase the number of Flow experiences they have in their lives. However, when they try to pursue Flow it is common for the Flow pursuers to get trapped in little dopamine cycles. Dopamine addiction might be going on. This would particularly be the case if we are seeking Flow in a digital environment, for most of the algorithms were written to actually stimulate dopamine. That’s been part of our problem. Everyone’s getting addicted rather than getting Flow states, which is what they’re seeking. Internet “addicts” don’t just want information, knowledge, and related things when accessing the Internet. They are also looking for Flow on the Internet (or at least a dopamine rush).”
One of the Forum participants, Mark Vukalcic, added his insights and personal experiences:
“The search for Flow certainly relates to the endless social media saturated with algorithms and dopamine? You’re really eliminating the physical and the challenge component of Flow when you seek it on the Internet. That’s why ever since I’ve been kayaking with Mitch and Jeremy, I find myself in Flow states. Because when I first did it, and I capsized, Jeremy had to rescue me. I still got back in the kayak every day. So, there was definitely a continuum from boredom to anxiety. I was on the threshold of anxiety, but I got back in the kayak. Ever since, I’ve been challenged. The waves get a little treacherous, or the winds, or the currents, and I’m just really focusing, I’m in a Flow state. Likewise, in music, when I’m playing with people who are more accomplished than myself. After getting over that fear, and then being free to make mistakes, I can get into the Flow state.”
Mihali Csikszentmihalyi was on the faculty at the University of Chicago. His mentor was Victor Turner. Turner (1977) identified the threshold experiences and transitional ceremonies that cultures all over the world enact. The most obvious would be the initiation rites into maturity, but thresholds can be engaged in many ways and many settings. Part of what Turner and Csikszentmihalyi were proposing is that there are social structures that can be put in place at different times that relate to thresholds in our life experiences: marriage ceremonies, funerals. Ceremonies are structured in societies so that we might successfully grapple with the Void that is filled with anxiety. Ceremonies take us beyond anxiety, the sense of being overwhelmed by the death of another person, the anxiety associated with getting married, or the transition associated with becoming an adult. How do we create a threshold experience that is enthralling?
