Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Relationship between Flow Proneness, Locus of Control and Behavioral Inhibition

Abstract

Flow is a psychological state of high but subjectively effortless attention that typically occurs during active performance of challenging tasks and is accompanied by a sense of automaticity, high control, low self-awareness, and enjoyment. Flow proneness is associated with traits and behaviors related to low neuroticism such as emotional stability, conscientiousness, active coping, self-esteem and life satisfaction. Little is known about the genetic architecture of flow proneness, behavioral inhibition and locus of control – traits also associated with neuroticism – and their interrelation. Here, we hypothesized that individuals low in behavioral inhibition and with an internal locus of control would be more likely to experience flow and explored the genetic and environmental architecture of the relationship between the three variables. Behavioral inhibition and locus of control was measured in a large population sample of 3,375 full twin pairs and 4,527 single twins, about 26% of whom also scored the flow proneness questionnaire. Findings revealed significant but relatively low correlations between the three traits and moderate heritability estimates of .41, .45, and .30 for flow proneness, behavioral inhibition, and locus of control, respectively, with some indication of non-additive genetic influences. For behavioral inhibition we found significant sex differences in heritability, with females showing a higher estimate including significant non-additive genetic influences, while in males the entire heritability was due to additive genetic variance. We also found a mainly genetically mediated relationship between the three traits, suggesting that individuals who are genetically predisposed to experience flow, show less behavioral inhibition (less anxious) and feel that they are in control of their own destiny (internal locus of control). We discuss that some of the genes underlying this relationship may include those influencing the function of dopaminergic neural systems.

Link between locus of control, anger and sport performance in table tennis players

“…Estos resultados muestran que el nivel de competición (nivel de liga) y tipo de práctica (profesionales vs amateurs) no influye en los niveles de locus de control externo de los jugadores de tenis de mesa. Por otro lado, la investigación anterior muestra que el locus de control externo influye en el rendimiento deportivo durante la competición (Arnaud et al, 2012;Mosing et al, 2012;Wallace et al, 2012;Wilson, 2001;Young, 1992). Aunque en este trabajo de investigación el nivel de rendimiento deportivo se entiende como competir en una liga alta, o ser profesional del deporte.…”

“…Al contrario, los jugadores con alto locus de control interno tienen mejores estrategias de afrontamiento durante la competición y en las situaciones adversas (Arnaud, Codou, & Palazzolo, 2012). Al mismo tiempo, esto repercute en el rendimiento deportivo de los jugadores y en los niveles de ira durante la competición (Mosing et al, 2012). De manera que el locus de control externo se relaciona con poseer niveles más altos de agresividad, más conductas antideportivas, más ansiedad competitiva y mayores problemas de atención/concentración (Wallace, Barry, Zeigler-Hill, & Green, 2012;Young, 1992).…”

Predictors of continued playing or singing – from childhood and adolescence to adult years

“…Motivation is likely to be a strong underlying factor in this association. Motivation has been described as a personality‐related variable with a substantial genetic influence 5. Amount of training is an intermediate variable and was therefore not included in the main multivariate analyses.…”

“…Some factors reflect properties of the individual, such as traits that make a person more or less interested, motivated and able to actively engage in music. Musical practice is thus related to personality, in particular, openness to experience and a proneness to have psychological flow experiences during musical activities, and the latter trait is associated with openness and other personality dimensions 3, 4, 5, 6. Secondly, musical engagement is related to intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation 7, with a tendency to perform tasks because they are rewarding in themselves 8.…”

Into the Square and out of the Box: The effects of Quadrato Motor Training on Creativity and Alpha Coherence

“…As a reviewer has suggested to us, another explanation for the specific improvement in ideational flexibility could be that QMT was a more engaging task than SMT and VT, thus allowing the participant to become bodily centered in a state of flow [67]. Flow is a state of high attention occurring during active performance, characterized by high creativity, as well as excellent emotional, cognitive and motor experience [67]-[69].…”