The Nature of Recreation, Leisure, and Play

Chapter 1HPR 200

SPRING 2011

The Nature of Recreation, Leisure, and Play

Leisure List

Make a list of all leisure you have experienced since Friday

Find a partnerTell him/her all the leisure “things” that you

have recently seen, done, or come into contact with

Essential Elements of Leisure

Perceived freedomAutotelic natureBeneficial outcome

Leisure

Do as one pleasesAt one’s own paceChoice in participationAbandon activity at will

Leisure Conceptualized

TimeActivityState of mind

Leisure As Time

Work time vs. Leisure timeWork time vs. Non-work timeDefine as what it is, not what it isn’t

Nash’s Paradigm of Free Time

Creativity

Active Participation

Emotional Participation

Killing Time

Injury to Self

Injury to Society

Leisure As Activity

Categories of like activitiesAllows for ease of studyProblem with this definition?Traditional activities may not be seen as

leisure for allActivities meanings can change

Leisure as Activity

Impulsive phasePerception phaseManipulation phaseConsummation phase

Leisure as Activities

Expressive acts Impulsive phase Perception phase Manipulation phase

Instrumental acts Impulsive phase Consummation phase

Leisure As a State of Mind

Freely chosen Perceived freedom

Intrinsic motivationSense of controlOptimal arousalWay of being

Optimal Arousal

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Boredom OptimalArousal

Anxiety

RiskCompetence

Defining Leisure

Elements Perceived freedom Autotelic activity Beneficial outcome

Conceptualizations Time Activity State of mind

Recreation

VoluntaryOrganizedSocially redeemingFunFree time

Recreation Recreation

Definition: voluntary participation in leisure activities that are meaningful and enjoyable

What are the catch words in this definition?

Types of Recreation

Public recreationCommercial recreationCorporate recreationTherapeutic recreationOther recreation settings

What kinds of recreation are What kinds of recreation are there?there?

Public Recreation Run by state, federal programs/subsidiaries or

by non-profit agencies Example: Paul B Johnson State Park

Commercial Recreation Run by for-profit businesses and organizations There is no need to associate these with better

or worse facilities or a disdain for profit Example: Movie Theaters, Bowling Alleys, Golf

Courses

Types of recreation (cont’d)Types of recreation (cont’d)

Corporate Recreation These forms of recreation are put on for the benefit

of employees or investors

Can exist in conjunction with commercial or public recreation

i.e. a bowling team in a for-profit bowling league or a corporate picnic held at a state park.

Types of recreation (cont’d)Types of recreation (cont’d)Therapeutic Recreation (T.R.)

Can occur in both public and private sectors Services special populations such as, but not limited to,

people with disabilities

T.R. could be used to service people with developmental disabilities in playing golf or in a seniors dance program, or to provide outdoor trust-based physical activities to youth from abusive backgrounds.

Other forms of recreation exist such as private club recreation or niche market recreation such as military recreation.

Play

SpontaneityExpressiveDone for its own sake

Play…what is it?Play…what is it?Play: Activities in which one engages freely and

from which one derives personal satisfaction. Other definitions imply a lack of formal organization that is implicit of play (know this).

Play is universal across cultures and even across species. Implications are that there is a biological purpose to develop kinesthetic awareness. Studies have even found traces of a “play center” in the brain.

From self awareness to external awareness to cultural and societal awareness, play provides stability and a process of learning.

Leisure, Recreation, or Play??

Leisure, Recreation, or Play??

Biological Interpretations of PlayThe young playInherentKarl Groos: prepare young for demands of life

Psychological Interpretations of PlayReflexDriveMotive

Sociological Interpretations of PlayRole of human groups on playJoseph Lee: need to belong can be filled

through playGeorge Herbert Mead: sense of self emerges

during play with others

Cultural Interpretations of Play

Culture defines leisureQuality of timePeer pressureSocial norms

Summary

Elements of LeisureConceptualization of LeisureDefinitions of:

Leisure (as time, as activity, as state of mind) Recreation Play

The Nature of Recreation, Leisure, and Play