Mihály Csíkszentmihályi
Mihaly Robert Csikszentmihalyi was a Hungarian-American psychologist. He recognized and named the psychological concept of "flow", a highly focused mental state conducive to creativity. He was the Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. Earlier, he served as the head of the department of psychology at the University of Chicago and of the department of sociology and anthropology at Lake Forest College.
Read biography ↓Biography, research & contributions
Mihaly Robert Csikszentmihalyi was a Hungarian-American psychologist. He recognized and named the psychological concept of "flow", a highly focused mental state conducive to creativity. He was the Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. Earlier, he served as the head of the department of psychology at the University of Chicago and of the department of sociology and anthropology at Lake Forest College.
Top Publications
- Positive psychology: An introduction. (2000) - 11,371 citations
- Positive psychology: An introduction. (2000) - 9,955 citations
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (1991) - 9,462 citations
- Beyond boredom and anxiety (1975) - 5,571 citations
- Validity and Reliability of the Experience-Sampling Method (1987) - 2,591 citations
At a glance
- Full name
- Mihály Csíkszentmihályi
- OpenAlex ID
- https://openalex.org/A5108245941
Research interests
- Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction, Flow Experience in Various Fields, Creativity in Education and Neuroscience, Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management, Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
Research topics
Education
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Selected research & further reading
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Citation & publication trends
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Source: OpenAlex · Retrieved 2026-10-07. Metrics are database-specific and are not a scientific ranking.
Most-cited linked publications
Publications matched across ORCID and OpenAlex. Citation counts are source-specific.
- Positive psychology: An introduction. ↗2000 · American Psychologist11,371OpenAlex citations
- Positive psychology: An introduction. ↗2000 · American Psychologist9,955OpenAlex citations
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience ↗1991 · Design Issues9,462OpenAlex citations
- 5,571OpenAlex citations
- Validity and Reliability of the Experience-Sampling Method ↗1987 · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease2,591OpenAlex citations
Recent linked publications
Publications matched across ORCID and OpenAlex. Citation counts are source-specific.
- Positive psychology: An introduction. ↗2000 · American Psychologist
- Positive psychology: An introduction. ↗2000 · American Psychologist
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience ↗1991 · Design Issues
- Validity and Reliability of the Experience-Sampling Method ↗1987 · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
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Sign in to claim this profileSources & data information
Editorial review: 2026-10-07 · Last data update: 2026-10-07 20:48:13
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