Chapter 7

Enhancing the Leisure Experience

Motivations & Constraints

Leisure Motivation

• WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN LEISURE ACTIVITIES??????

Reasons for Participation

• Classifications of leisure:• Formal groups including social clubs, fraternal

organizations, etc• Informal groups• Travel• Sports participation• Watching sports• Television and radio• Fishing/hunting• Gardening• Sewing and woodworking• Reading• Visiting friends and relatives

Why we participate……

• Just for the pleasure of it• Welcome change from work• New experiences• Chance to be creative• Chance to achieve something• Contact w/friends• Make time pass• Service to others

Objectives of Leisure

• 1. relaxation• 2. diversion• 3. self-development• 4. creativity• 5. sensual transcendence

Categories of leisure objectives:

• Relaxation: sleeping, resting and daydreaming

• Diversion: activities that provide change of pace

• Self Development: learning to sing or participation in clubs and cultural activities

• Creativity: playing an instrument or discussion about a specific topic

• Sensual transcendence: activation of senses and sexual pleasure.

Components of Leisure Activities

• Psychological—sense of freedom, enjoyment, challenge

• Educational—intellectual challenge• Social—relationships w/others• Relaxation—relief from stress• Physiological—fitness, health, wellness,

well being• Aesthetic—response to pleasing design

and environment

Self-Determination

• Intrinsic Motivation:• The doing of an activity for its

inherent satisfaction rather than for some separable consequences. When intrinsically motivated, a person is moved to act for the fun or challenge entailed rather than because of external prods, pressures, or rewards.

Flow

• “The state when individuals’ skills are harmonious with the demands of the activity in which they are engaged.”

• When an activity is overly demanding for an individual’s abilities, anxiety will result.

• There is probably greater danger underestimating the abilities of older individuals than overestimating their abilities as a result of myths.

SEEKING AND ESCAPE

• “There are only 2 fundamental dimensions to leisure motivations:”• Seeking personal and interpersonal

intrinsic rewards• Escaping persona and interpersonal

environments

Optimal Arousal

• Primary Leisure Motivator.• We seek to be in a state of

uncertainty and stimulation. This is often achieved through novelty in activities.• For example: an aquatics program can be

made stimulating by the introduction of new exercises, equipment, or members into the class.

FINDING PERSONAL MEANING IN LEISURE

• Personal growth• Success or achievement• Altruism• Hedonism• Creativity• Religion• Legacy

LEISURE CONSTRAINTS

• Any factor interfering with the pursuit of leisure, such as poor health or lack of opportunities for active engagement, may be viewed as a constraint.

Examples

• Decline in visual acuity may result in the loss of the ability to drive and therefore lack of transportation may become a problem

• Reduced income resulting from retirement and reliance on social security as a major source of finances may magnify the effects of not having enough money.