Hungarian Minister of Human Capacities Zoltán Balog presented the Grand Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit to renowned psychology professor Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in Los Angeles on 6 December.

80-year-old Csíkszentmihályi is the Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University and the developer of the flow theory, an important component of positive psychology and the basis of a successful new teaching method.

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“Flow theory is essentially a way to link everyday work with pleasure in different walks of life, with relevant applications in manager training, teaching, leisure, active old age, the rehabilitation of underage criminals and helping disabled people”, Mr. Balog told Hungarian news agency MTI.

At the ceremony, Mr. Balog pointed out that Mihály Csíkszentmihályi was born in 1934 in Fiume, which at the time belonged to Italy – where his father was the Hungarian consul general – and although he emigrated to the United States at the age of 22 and only lived in Hungary itself for a few months, he had cherished and remained faithful to his Hungarian heritage.

Minister Balog also said that Professor Csíkszentmihályi will establish a business venture in Hungary to teach management and popularise the flow theory.

(Ministry of Human Capacities)