Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025

Group Synchronization During Collaborative Drawing Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: August 5, 2022
Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams
Siem Buseyne1, Thierry Danquigny2, Fien Depaepe3
1KU Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Centre for Instructional Psychology & Technology, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, imec research group itec, Kortrijk, Belgium; ULR 4354 - CIREL - Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Education de Lille, Université de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
Abstract:
This study investigates the relationship between team members' personality traits and their perceived individual and team flow in collaborative problem-solving (CPS) contexts. Flow, a state of optimal experience, enhances motivation, performance, and satisfaction, benefiting both individuals and teams. Using multilevel regression analysis, we examined data from 60 participants across 15 work teams performing two CPS tasks, assessing individual and team flow separately. Linear regression revealed no noteworthy links between personality domains and individual flow. However, curvilinear analyses revealed various insights, with U-shaped relationships observed for Extraversion, indicating that individuals with either low or high levels of Extraversion tend to experience higher individual flow than those with moderate levels of this trait. Altruism/Agreeableness, while unrelated to individual flow, showed significant linear relationships with various team flow dimensions, including open communication and sense of unity. For team flow as well, curvilinear analyses revealed similar U-shaped relationships, mainly observed for Extraversion. The findings illustrate the nuanced role of personality in CPS and highlight the value of exploring curvilinear relationships besides linear relationships. Future research should examine the mechanisms underlying these relationships and their generalizability across contexts.
Related Concept Videos
Social Loafing
Social Facilitation
Cognitive Learning
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
Cultural Influences on Personality
Robbers Cave
Self-Discrepancy Theory

