Understanding Academic Creativity: An Application Of “Flow” Concept In Spiritual Perspective

Abstract

In general sense academic output is measured in terms of grades obtained by students taking a particular course or with the level of understanding generated while undergoing the course. The output in terms of A grades is quite easy to comprehend, although, holds little value, the deeper understanding of the course holds much merit, although, it’s very difficult to comprehend. It is seldom reckoned how creatively a particular course is conceived, designed, delivered and helped to serve the academic fraternity. We try to demonstrate our understanding in all the spheres of our life, in action oriented thoughts, in perception about events, in interaction with the environmental stimulus. We sometime get bored with the mundane routine activities, but, sometimes quite get involved and absorbed in the process. Why particular tasks become mundane to somebody, while it absorbs somebody? Is it creative stimulus? Is it environment stimulus? Is it the personality traits? Is it the subject itself? Being creative in one’s profession often holds its objective treatment to the concept of creativity which is understood to be an expression of the individual talent in a form which is not controlled by the individual itself; rather it is understood to be performed by somebody who is beyond the individual. It may sound little bit tiring and confusing to understand that “being absent” is basically “being present” in a form where the expression of inner understanding happens when one allows the “Flow”. The concept of “Flow” as proposed by Csikszentmihalyi is understood in a perspective where the optimal experience of an individual towards the context of intrinsic motivation and positive experience (Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi, 2002) is influenced by the individual interaction of person and the environment. “Flow” is also influenced by certain characteristics of motivation, happiness, satisfaction, strength and positive emotions involved in the process where the “Flow” of an individual is enhanced and not obstructed by certain forces (Csikszentmihalyi and LeFevre, 1989). The study setting involves academicians from a top level Institute of National Importance engaged in different Engineering, Social Science and Management streams to understand the “Flow”. Primarily observation method along with semi structured questions is employed to understand the responses of the individual, where the responses were allowed to express itself without any obstruction. Responses were gathered in an informal setting so that the respondents may not become aware and try to be politically correct. The findings can be effectively used to design policy intervention at an individual level to cull out the creative genius from a person.