The Attraction of Recreation and Play

In this segment of our journey, I would like to explore an interesting question: What drives people to engage in recreational activities? To uncover the answer to this question, we must define recreation and play as well as their psychological and cultural importance.

Recreations and games are distinguished from chores, burdens, and other activities because partaking in them is an active choice. Recreations are not an obligation and usually is an activity that the partakers enjoy and passion participate in willingly. Play is no longer considered as such if it becomes obligatory or mandatory. Another parameter of recreation is that it is different than everyday life. Play obeys its own rules and ignores socially accepted norms associated with labor; instead, it's sculpted by parameters that make it enjoyable to its users. Another guideline of play is it carries a degree of uncertainty. It is spontaneous and conforms to the goals of its participants.

While these rules may seem complicated, they attempt to characterize a complex and fluid category of activity. The parameters mentioned above can best be explained and understood with a hypothetical example: two bored co-workers throwing crumpled pieces of paper into a trash can. This activity is classified as recreation because it isn't enforced, obeys its own rules, and carries a degree of uncertainty. On the other hand, an NBA game would not be considered play since the players are under contract to attend.

One of the most prominent reasons that people engage in play is that it is a break from everyday life and routine. Engaging in recreational gives our minds to abandon the responsibilities of everyday life. When engaging in play, one has more control than they would in a work environment. The heightened sense of control makes play enjoyable since the partaker's character and vitality can be fully expressed. Additionally, unlike work, there are no long-term consequences to engaging in recreational activities. The lack of consequences allows participants to take bigger risks and try new activities. In this way, engaging in play allows one to develop their self-identity.

Another reason that people engage in play is that it allows for social interaction in an informal manner. When engaging in play, behavior is not controlled by normative expectations. Instead, the behavior is guided by a common goal, whether it be kicking a soccer ball through a goal of building an ideal house out of blocks. The aspects of cooperation and solidarity associated with play help to make recreational activities.

So, what drives people to engage in play? People engage in recreational reasons for maybe different reasons and there is no one motivator for play. However, recreations allow a person to explore their self-identity and to build solidarity with others, creating a pleasurable and enjoyable experience.

Works Cited

Starn, Orin. "Why do we like to play?" Sports and Society, 15 Jul. 2020, Duke University, https://www.coursera.org/learn/sports-society.