New directions in the psychology of optimal performance in sport: Flow and clutch states.
Open accessAbstract
Csikszentmihalyi's conceptualisation of flow is the primary framework for understanding the psychology of optimal experience and performance in sport. However, emerging evidence suggests a more dynamic, multi-state perspective. This review focuses primarily on recent studies highlighting a second, overlapping 'clutch' state which - in addition to flow - underlies optimal performance in sport. We also examine how the nature of goals ('open' or 'fixed') athletes pursue influence the experience of flow and clutch respectively. This new, integrated model of psychological states underlying optimal performance raises questions around conceptualisation and methodology employed in the field to date. These implications are outlined, and recommendations are provided for more critical and accurate measurement of both flow and clutch as overlapping, yet distinct, states.
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Open goals are exploratory and focused on challenging the athlete to see how well they can do, avoiding specific outcomes, and may lead to optimal performances.
“However, open goals are exploratory and focused on challenging the athlete to see how well they can do, avoiding specific outcomes, may lead to optimal performances (Swann et al., 2017).”
From Integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Psychological Skills Training (PST): a case study (2025) · cites this paper as Swann et al., 2017
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References 35 · Cited by 84
- Authors
- Swann, C., Crust, L., & Vella, S. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- University of Lincoln (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Swann, Christian
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Psychology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 16
- Pages
- 48-53
- ISSN
- 2352-250X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2607932696
- Cited by
- 84
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5
- FWCI
- 1.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lincoln Repository (University of Lincoln) (acceptedVersion)
- Cross Connect (Southern Cross University) (submittedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Flow Experience in Various Fields
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Keywords
- flow, Csikszentmihalyi, psychological state, goal orientation, optimal experience
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