Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi

Hungarian-born American psychologist

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was a Hungarian-born American psychologist known for his research on creativity and the concept of "flow." He studied individuals whose work was recognized as creative and influential, finding that many had normal childhoods and supportive families.1

Csikszentmihalyi defined "flow" as a state of complete immersion in an activity, where one's abilities are challenged and matched by the task at hand. This state is driven by intrinsic motivation, a deep interest in the work itself. His research also highlighted that creativity is a system involving the individual, the domain of knowledge, and the field of practice, emphasizing the interaction between a person and their sociocultural environment.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

creativity
Research on the creative process
…century the Hungarian-born American psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi studied more than 90 men and women who possessed the following characteristics: (1) they produced works that were publicly recognized as creative, and (2) they influenced or affected their culture in some important way. Contrary to earlier theories that creative people emerged from…
Read More
…century the Hungarian-born American psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi studied more than 90 men and women who possessed the following characteristics: (1) they produced works that were publicly recognized as creative, and (2) they influenced or affected their culture in some important way. Contrary to earlier theories that creative people emerged from…
Read More

genius
The Hungarian-born American psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi depicted ways in which creativity and mastery of a domain relate to the development of genius. His study of eminent men and women showed how great creative achievement cannot exist without mastery of the skills and specific knowledge of a domain. These can…
Read More
The Hungarian-born American psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi depicted ways in which creativity and mastery of a domain relate to the development of genius. His study of eminent men and women showed how great creative achievement cannot exist without mastery of the skills and specific knowledge of a domain. These can…
Read More