Intrinsic motivation and enjoyment in selected recreational activities

Abstract

Based on research into intrinsic motivation and enjoyable experiences, Csikszentmihalyi (1975) has postulated a model of enjoyment which he has called the model of the flow state. A desire to continue and expand Csikszentmihalyi's research, prompted this study. A modified version of Csikszentmihalyi's questionnaire was administered to 84 respondents from four recreational activities to determine firstly, if they were intrinsically motivated; secondly, to determine the structure of their enjoyable experiences; and, thirdly, to examine Csikszentimihalyi's model of flow. The results indicated that respondents were intrinsically motivated; their enjoyment during a typical session of their activity was most similar to feelings of novelty, challenge and being with a good friend; and, during highest moments of enjoyment (presumably when they would be experiencing flow), their feelings were most similar to feelings of control and least similar to feelings of anxiety. The results are similar to those reported by Csikszentmihalyi and demonstrate that, across widely differing activities, a consensus exists as to the reasons for enjoying activity and as to the structure of enjoyable experiences. The results also confirm that there is some explanatory power in Csikszentmihalyi' model.