Historical Assumptions
Motivation for Recreation
• Theoretically once we have numbers and
characteristics of population - we need to
understand any other factors that will lead
to an activity being selected
– sometimes mutual exclusion
• The motivation for activity - what
individuals would really like to gain from
the activity - should govern our planning for
the activity
Surplus Energy
• Individuals have a
“fixed” amount of
energy available to
them
• This is exhausted
through work and play
• If not exhausted trouble for the
individual
• Link to observation of children
– previous comments about technology
• extremely inclusive
• Individuals react differently
– other reasons for participation rather than
just feeling ‘tired’ or ‘peppy’
– for example, ‘social push’
Recreation as a Cathartic Device
• Recreation is a needed
‘safety valve’
• a means of ‘letting off
steam’
• Frustration abounds in
society - work, family,
society
• Recreation is a ‘safe’
outlet
• Recreation provides an opportunity to ‘play’
harder
– Hitting a ball, hitting an opponent
• Release of frustration - in a legal manner
• Implications
– recreation can ‘solve’ emotional
problems
– planning should allow for relaxation of
‘rules’ within activities and facilities
• Additional concerns
– Recreational activity can deepen
frustration
– Act of getting rid of frustration can lead
to poorer performance
• Again an all inclusive rationale for - why
we recreate
Preparation for Life
• ‘Play’ is a means of practicing survival
– behaviour is rooted in instinct
– recreation mimics life
• Again link to children - play at the adult
world
• Therefore a preparation for real life
• Implies conscious knowledge of what we
need to survive
• Implies an obvious purpose to any activity
• Impact on planning for activities if this is
correct
– possibility that individuals may want a
break from reality
Recapitulation Theory
• Similar to previous theory
• Recreation is ‘re-creation’
– we mimic life
– we play at war for example
• Implies instinctive (or genetic)
• knowledge of human history
Rest and Relaxation
• Recreation is - restoration
– mental and physical restoration
– work is monotonous and stressful
• Recreation offers recuperation
• Should we plan for stress free
activities? - or a change of routine
Possibilities
1 Cathartic device
2 Preparation for Life
3 R and R
• Do they fit in a ‘modern’ thought process?
• Do they have implications for planning?
Alternative Thoughts
• Perhaps combinations of the previous ideas
with less of an absolute approach may
provide a better picture
• With this in mind - two camps appear (not
mutually exclusive
– Physiological motivations
– Psychological motivations
Physiological Needs and Gains
• Base Level
– need for survival - requisites of life
• As we satisfy this we have other needs
– recreation helps the development of the
entire organism
• Stimulus of recreation helps the coordination and development of the mind,
organs and emotions
• Link to the ‘Preparation for life” theory
–
–
–
–
language skills from word games
motor skills from bicycling
math from board games
co-ordination from ‘hopscotch’
• Adults continue this - a need to learn?
– Music - mathematical construction
– Sailing - wind systems
- navigation
- radio techniques
Recreation - Contribution to
Learned Behaviour
• Lessons are passed on to other areas of our
lives
– team behaviour
• striving together, putting team first,
accepting defeat gracefully, learning to
lose, playing within the rules
• Negative aspects can be reinforced as well
– team behaviour
• disdain for rules, disdain for weaker
opponents, individual selfishness,
emulation of pro athletes
• Planner - concern with associated
training and development of instructors
• Push for ‘responsible’ activities wilderness camping