Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Born 1934 · Age 91
Hungarian-American psychologist, creator of the theory of 'flow', Distinguished Professor at Claremont Graduate University, co-founder of the field of positive psychology.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Fiume (now Rijeka)
Born Mihaly Robert Csikszentmihalyi in Fiume, Kingdom of Italy (now Rijeka, Croatia). Family Hungarian diplomatic background.
Family losses during WWII
At age 10 one older half-brother was killed in the Siege of Budapest; another brother, Moricz, was sent to Soviet labor camps in Siberia.
Father appointed Hungarian Ambassador to Italy; family moves to Rome
Shortly after WWII Mihaly's father was appointed Hungarian ambassador to Italy and the family moved to Rome.
Family stripped of Hungarian citizenship; father resigns
When Communists took over Hungary (1949) his father resigned rather than serve the regime; the family was expelled/stripped of citizenship. Father opened a restaurant; Mihaly dropped out of school to help.
Hears Carl Jung lecture in Switzerland
While traveling in Switzerland as a teenager he heard Carl Jung give a talk on the psychology of UFO sightings; influential early encounter with psychology.
Immigrated to the United States to study psychology
Moved to the U.S. at age 22 to pursue psychology studies; supported himself by working nights while at the University of Chicago.
B.A. from University of Chicago (reported 1959/1960)
Received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago (sources report 1959 or 1960; 1959 is cited in several biographies).
Married Isabella Selega
Married Isabella Selega (who later edited/co-edited some of his books). They remained married for 60 years.
Doctoral student mentorship begins (e.g., Keith Sawyer)
As an academic he supervised doctoral students (notably Keith Sawyer) and influenced subsequent researchers in creativity and flow.
Ph.D. from University of Chicago; doctoral thesis completed
Earned a Ph.D. (1965). Dissertation: 'Artistic problems and their solutions; an exploration of creativity in the arts.' Doctoral advisor: Jacob W. Getzels.
Begins teaching at Lake Forest College
Taught at Lake Forest College after completing his doctorate; served in the department of sociology and anthropology there (later became department head per sources).
Served as head of Lake Forest College department (approx.)
Reportedly served as head of the department of sociology and anthropology at Lake Forest College (text gives role but not exact year; year here is approximate).
Joined University of Chicago faculty
Returned to the University of Chicago as a faculty member in 1969 and continued there for decades, eventually leading the psychology department.
Pioneered experience-sampling methodology in flow research (approx.)
Developed innovative use of pagers and repeated questionnaires to build a database of ordinary experiences (experience sampling) for flow research; timeframe broadly 1970s–1980s.
Published 'Beyond Boredom and Anxiety' (book)
Published Beyond Boredom and Anxiety: Experiencing Flow in Work and Play (Jossey-Bass), an early development of flow research.
Published chapter 'Intrinsic Rewards and Emergent Motivation'
Published the chapter 'Intrinsic Rewards and Emergent Motivation' in The Hidden Costs of Reward (1978).
Published 'The Meaning of Things' (book)
Co-authored The Meaning of Things: Domestic Symbols and the Self (Cambridge University Press).
Published 'Being Adolescent' (book)
Co-authored Being Adolescent: Conflict and Growth in the Teenage Years (Basic Books).
Co-edited 'Optimal Experience' (book)
Co-edited Optimal Experience: Psychological studies of flow in consciousness (Cambridge University Press).
Flow model: nine component states articulated
Developed and articulated the nine components of flow (e.g., challenge–skill balance, merging of action and awareness, loss of self-consciousness etc.) in his work on flow.
Flow: book becomes internationally influential
Flow influenced leaders in politics, business, sports, and education (e.g., presidents, prime ministers, coaches); the book's cultural impact accelerated worldwide adoption of the concept.
Flow translated into more than 20 languages (milestone)
The 1990 Flow book was translated into 20+ languages, expanding global reach of his ideas.
Published 'Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience' (seminal book)
Published Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Harper & Row). The book became a bestseller and was translated into more than 20 languages; it popularized the concept of 'flow.'
Published 'The Evolving Self' (book)
Published The Evolving Self (Harper Perennial), expanding his theories on development and well-being.
Flow used by Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson reportedly used ideas from Flow to prepare his team for the 1993 Super Bowl (example of the book's cultural influence).
Published 'Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention'
Published Creativity (Harper Perennial), focusing on discovery, invention, and the creative process.
Influence: President and Prime Minister cited as readers/users
His work on flow reportedly influenced public figures such as President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair (widely reported though not formal collaborations).
Published 'Finding Flow' (book)
Published Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life (Basic Books), applying flow to everyday activities.
Created Positive Psychology graduate program at CGU (with colleagues)
Helped create and nurture a formal graduate program and research activity in positive psychology at Claremont Graduate University; hundreds of graduates followed.
Joined Claremont Graduate University (CGU) faculty
Left University of Chicago and joined Claremont Graduate University as Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management (arrival reported in 1999).
Founded Quality of Life Research Center (QLRC) at CGU
Founded and co-directed the Quality of Life Research Center (QLRC) at CGU with Jeanne Nakamura to advance research in positive psychology and human flourishing.
Retired from University of Chicago faculty role (approx.)
Retired from his long tenure at the University of Chicago and transitioned fully to Claremont (arrival at CGU reported in 1999; 'retired' phrasing used in some accounts).
Co-authored seminal article introducing positive psychology
With Martin Seligman, published an influential article (American Psychologist, 2000) introducing and helping to shape the field of positive psychology.
Co-founded/Helped create field of positive psychology (with Martin Seligman)
Worked with Martin Seligman and others to establish positive psychology as a formal area of study; their 2000 American Psychologist article was foundational.
Published 'Good Work: When Excellence and Ethics Meet'
Co-authored Good Work (with Howard Gardner and William Damon), examining excellence and ethics in work.
Published 'Good Business'
Published Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning (Basic Books), applying flow to leadership and organizational life.
Delivered TED Talk: 'Flow, the secret to happiness' (TED2004)
Presented a highly viewed TED Talk on flow in 2004; by later counts the video had millions of views (CGU cites ~6.69 million at time of reporting).
Awarded Clifton Strengths Prize
Received the Clifton Strengths Prize in recognition of contributions to strengths-based psychology.
Photographed with Martin Seligman at World Congress on Positive Psychology
Appeared publicly with co-founder Martin Seligman at the 2nd World Congress on Positive Psychology (Philadelphia, 2011), illustrating ongoing leadership in the field.
Received Széchenyi Prize (Hungary)
Awarded the Széchenyi Prize in Budapest for his scientific contributions.
Published collected works on creativity and flow (three volumes)
Springer published volumes: The Systems Model of Creativity; Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology; Applications of Flow in Human Development and Education (Collected Works).
Recognized as Fellow and Academy memberships (reported)
Listed as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the National Academy of Education and the Academy of Leisure Sciences (text mentions membership; specific years not provided).
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
Received the Hungarian Order of Merit (Grand Cross) in recognition of lifetime achievements.
Spoke at Western Positive Psychology Association conference
Photo and reporting indicate Csikszentmihalyi spoke at the 2018 Western Positive Psychology Association conference in Claremont (pictured at podium).
Feature on flow in 'The Core' magazine (UChicago)
UChicago published a feature (Summer 2019) about his life and the development of the term 'flow' and related research.
Legacy: Over 120 articles and book chapters
By late career Csikszentmihalyi had published more than 120 articles and book chapters on happiness, creativity, motivation, and flow.
Family and survivors noted; suggested donations
At time of death family requested contributions to charities (Center for Biological Diversity and Habitat for Humanity); survivors include wife Isabella and sons Christopher and Mark.
Died in Claremont, California
Died of cardiac arrest at home in Claremont, California on 20 October 2021, aged 87; survived by wife Isabella and two sons.
Google Doodle commemorates his birthday
On what would have been his 89th birthday (29 Sep 2023) Google featured a commemorative Doodle honoring Csikszentmihalyi and his concept of flow.
Pop-culture reference: 'Mihaly' character in Just Dance 2025 edition
The Just Dance 2025 edition includes a character named 'Mihaly' reportedly referencing Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and the concept of flow (source cited Nov 2023 referencing the 2025 edition).
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and others achieved at these notable ages:
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