1) The document discusses how optimal creative experiences can shape creative networks through the concept of "networked flow", which is when a group becomes highly productive and creative ideas flow freely as members become synchronized both behaviorally and neurophysiologically. 2) It explores how creative networks form and evolve over time, with certain groups exhibiting higher levels of "flow" through close listening, equal participation, and spontaneous communication, which can boost their creative performance. 3) Studies examined how social interactions and emotional contagion within student collaboration networks were related to their reported flow states and creativity over time, finding that teams with more tightly-knit and synchronized networks tended to be the most creative.

1. 1
Networked Flow:
How optimal experience
shapes creative networks
Creative Networks: Models, Methods and Applications
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, 22 Novembre 2019
Andrea Gaggioli
Research Unit on Psychology of Creativity and Innovation

2. What is the key to group creativity?

3. Perspectives on creativity
Individual Social

4. Individual vs collective creativity
Au Cafe Guerbois, Manet, 1869

5. What is the key to group creativity?

6. How do creative networks form and evolve?
Socrates
Aristotle
Chu Hsi
Wittgenstein
Heidegger

7. Group flow: a transformative creative experience
• Flow: a positive state of mind in
which the perception of high
challenges in the task at hand
is coupled with high personal
skills
• Group flow: a “collective state
of peak performance”, when a
group is in sync and creative
ideas are “flowing”
• Group flow has been
investigated in unstructured
teams, such as improvisional
theatre and jazz ensambles

8. Gaggioli, A. et al. (2013). Networked Flow: Towards an Understanding of Creative Networks. Springer, New York
Entrainment
Social
presence
Networked
Flow
Networked flow: the process

9. Le persone hanno una tendenza innata a
sincronizzare emozioni, stati cognitivi e
comportamenti durante le interazioni sociali
Getting in synch with
others - at the
behavioral and/or
neuro-physiological level

10. Studying entrainment in joint action
Coco M.I., Badino L., Cipresso P., Chirico A., Ferrari E., Riva G., Gaggioli A., D’Ausilio A. (2017) Multilevel
behavioral synchronization in a joint tower-building task. IEEE T Cogn Develop Syst, 9(3), 223-233.

11. Does entrainment boost dyadic creativity?
Gaggioli A, et al. Effects of interpersonal sensorimotor synchronization on dyadic
creativity: Gender matters. Front. Psychol. 2019;9:1–12.

12. WE-INTENTION
The intense feeling of
sharing one’s own
goals and emotions
with others

13. Le persone hanno una tendenza innata a
sincronizzare emozioni, stati cognitivi e
comportamenti durante le interazioni sociali
Networked flow à
a “collective state of
peak performance”,
when a group is in
sync and creative
ideas are “flowing”

14. 1. A compelling, shared goal
2. Close listening
3. Use “yes, and…” to keep it
moving forward
4. Complete concentration and full
attention
5. A sense of being in control
6. Blending egos
7. Equal participation
8. Familiarity
9. Constant, spontaneous
communication
10. Consider the potential for failure
The 10 keys to networked flow
K. Sawyer, 2007

15. Creative networks and emotional contagion
• A creative network
attracts new members
through a mechanism of
“emotional contagion”
• Since “emotional energy”
is embodied in symbols
like words and images,
experiences such as
reading and even
reflecting upon others’
thoughts, have the power
to influence an
individual’s emotional
energy

16. ¨ We examined the creative collaboration
process of student groups engaging in a
blended learning environment
¨ We used longitudinal social network
analysis (over 12 weeks) to examine
group interactions and social presence
over time, and related these to self-
reported flow states and creativity
performance
Gaggioli, A., et al. (2014) The creative link: Investigating the relationship between social network
indices, creative performance and flow in blended teams. Computers in Human Behavior.
Study: Networked Creativity in Learning

17. Gaggioli, A., et al. (2014) The creative link: Investigating the relationship between social network
indices, creative performance and flow in blended teams. Computers in Human Behavior.
Study: Networked Creativity in Learning

18. Evolution of group structure

19. Evolution of group structure: high-flow teams
…these teams were also the most creative

20. Key takeaway points
• Creativity can be thought
as a networked process
• Optimal team creativity is
achieved when people
reach a group mind
(“networked flow”)
• Challenge: can creativity
be «contagious»? Does it
spread over networks?

21. More to explore…

22. Thanks!