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Experimental Paradigms to Investigate Flow-Experience and Its Psychophysiology: Inspired from Stress Theory and Research

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Abstract

In this chapter, we present new psychological and physiological research paradigms to assess and investigate flow-experience. We compare flow theory and research with concepts of challenge and threat, as well as with mental effort. By taking a closer look at physiological processes during challenge and threat and during mental effort, we outline physiological measures that might relate to flow-experience but have not yet been considered by flow-research yet. Also, we describe research paradigms from the research-traditions of challenge and threat and mental effort and discuss applications for flow-research. Within this chapter, we aim at stimulating experimental research on flow-experience for a better understanding of its psychological and physiological mechanisms.

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Tozman, T., Peifer, C. (2016). Experimental Paradigms to Investigate Flow-Experience and Its Psychophysiology: Inspired from Stress Theory and Research. In: Harmat, L., Ørsted Andersen, F., Ullén, F., Wright, J., Sadlo, G. (eds) Flow Experience. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28634-1_20

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