Exploring Flow, Contextual Cues, and Arousal Framing in Performance and Play

The computational model of flow involves the concept of contextual cues, where the environment triggers habits related to active inference and prepares individuals for specific actions. Philosophical frameworks reverse engineer similarities across contexts to enhance transfer of cognitive processing. Arousal framing can be categorized into two modes: italic mode, where effort towards an external goal leads to frustration and anxiety, and paratolic mode, where the behavior itself is the reward, leading to positive arousal. Framing activities in the play mode allows individuals to perceive arousal positively, enhancing their performance. This paratolic framing is connected to the concept of flow being autotelic, emphasizing the enjoyment of the activity for its own sake.