Leisure's Roles PDF

Leisure’s Roles Objectives  How do scholars define leisure?  Identify the roles of leisure for the:  Individual  Family  Society  Explain how leisure can be a positive and negative influence The Great Leisure Debate  There are many ways to define and concep...

Leisure’s Roles Objectives  How do scholars define leisure?  Identify the roles of leisure for the:  Individual  Family  Society  Explain how leisure can be a positive and negative influence The Great Leisure Debate  There are many ways to define and conceptualize leisure (Dillard & Bates, 2011)  Freedom and intrinsic motivation (Neulinger,1974)  Leisure is the experience (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975)  Casual versus serious (Stebbins, 1982)  Motivation categories (Tinsley & Kass, 1978)  Escape versus seeking (Iso-Ahola, 1982) All these approaches seek to better explain and understand leisure, to then create managerial implications  Roles for the individual  Enjoyment  Identity development  Skill development  Personal wellness (Shannon, 2013)  Enjoyment  Definitions of leisure often include:  Freely chosen, personal choice, activity (Kelly, 1996).  Leisure activities can therefore result in  Enhanced moods,  Immediate satisfaction,  Sense of accomplishment,  Reflective positive mood enhancement,  Greater life satisfaction. (Shannon, 2013)  Identity development  Offers a freedom to explore and experiment.  Provides an opportunity for trial and error so individuals can try on different identities.  We can present our identity to others through leisure.  Successes and failures. (Shannon, 2013)  Identity development  Allows for individuation:  Discovering ourselves by differentiating ourselves from others.  A leisure identity can provide a sense of self-worth & value.  Leisure can provide a sense of purpose during times of change & / or traumatic life events.  Negative constraints to identity are possible (ex. Motherhood; Coakley, 2006; Nash & Moore, 2021) (Shannon, 2013)  Skill development  “Most leisure activities and experiences are rich with the potential for skill development” (Shannon, 2013, p. 34)  Problem solving  Interpersonal and communication skills  Decision-making  Leadership  Why parents invest in sport for kids (Harwood & Knight, 2015)  Some skills are transferable but leisure provides the initial platform (Shannon, 2013)  Personal wellness  Physical  Provides opportunities for health benefits.  Social  Provide places for social interactions  Emotional  Leisure activities provide an outlet for coping with stress, anger, and sadness.  Activities can increase enjoyment.  Intellectual  Engaging the mind & promoting intellectual wellness.  Spiritual wellness. (Heintzman, 2002; Shannon, 2013)  Role of Leisure For the family  Provides opportunities for shared experiences  Therefore family leisure can:  Facilitate family bonding, stability, interaction, & cohesion  Develops a sense of family unity & connection  It provides a learning environment  Confirms traditions (Shannon, 2013) Family Leisure  Not just limited to parent-child, but all family roles  Core and Balance Model (Zabriskie & McCormack, 2001)  Family sport culture (Birchwood et al., 2008)  Purposive Leisure (Shaw & Dawson, 2001)  Family leisure can be negative  Role of Leisure for Society  People in society share: A sense of belonging or identity, A body of shared values, A system of socialization A sense of interdependency. (Shannon, 2013)  Society Leisure reflects & transmits values & norms  Leisure can influence societal norms  Societal norms can influence leisure  E.g., the importance of a work ethic.  E.g., Canada’s connection to nature. (Shannon, 2013)  Society Leisure contributes to the economy  People consume for leisure  Travel, equipment, services, etc.  Assists production  Recuperative opportunities  Mental and physical well-being  Increased skill level. (Shannon, 2013)  Society Leisure can promote group solidarity  Activities promote dominate culture  Activities can promote and preserve cultures.  E.g., cultural awareness through art, dance & celebrations.  Leisure can promote & build equality  Leisure can eliminate stereotypes  (Shannon, 2013)  Negative Impact Society  Society contains many marginalized groups who are not consider to be part of mainstream society.  Negative:  Leisure settings & experiences can perpetuate stereotypes  Therefore promoting exclusion & marginalization (Shannon, 2013) Concluding thoughts...  There are many ways to define and conceptualize leisure  Leisure’s role can be positive and negative in how it influences people’s lives.  Practitioners need to consider the role of leisure and then assist individuals in attaining positive benefits from leisure.