Enhancing the Leisure Experience: Motivations, Meanings and Constraints Chapter 7 HPR 452

Motivation: what is it? Behavior is preceded by a need or motive Engagement in the behavior may result in fulfillment or the need that originally motivated involvement Feedback on the success, or failure, of the activity in meeting needs results in continuation or cessation of the activity Mannell and Kleiber (1977) Motives are a crucial part of the leisure experience

Lifelong leisure activity involvement such as Victor Logan, the violin craftsman… Provides meaning and is a part of his life This is indicative of leisure for many older individuals Why do people participate in leisure? Because it is enjoyable – but is this enough?

Leisure Motivation Leisure is very personal – different meaning for different individuals i.e. tennis – status, exercise, be with spouse, socialize w/ friends, do something outside, emulate a role model Also, an activity may have different meanings on different days for the same individual It is the meaning to the individual which is crucial

The meaning of the activity which determines if it is expressive leisure, social leisure or activity required by social roles Iso-Ahola (1989) views motives as internal factors of driving behaviors – if NH residents participate for social interaction, why plan programs that do not include this factor? Leisure providers must cultivate motivation

Reasons for Participating in Leisure Havinghurst (1961) – pg 119 ▫Just for the pleasure ▫Welcome change from work ▫New experiences ▫Chances to be creative ▫Chance to achieve something ▫Contact with friends ▫Make time pass ▫Service to others Determined by personality – not age, gender or social class

Leisure as a benefit Nimrod (2007) – Retirees in Israel  Essentiality – Role expectations or developing competence  Growth – Personal development  Challenge – active engagement and good performance  Companionship – strengthening relationships  Work-Like – contradictory answers – either doing something different or similar to work Havinghurst and Nimrod similarities – achievement, social interaction, link to work, growth opportunity

Leisure is defined by the meaning attached and not by the activity itself So we need to understand “why” it is done Gordon and Gaitz – “objectives of leisure”  Relaxation  Diversion  Self-development  Creativity  Sensual Transcendence pg 120

Kelly and Godbey (1992) – global concept ▫Psychological ▫Educational ▫Social ▫Relaxation ▫Physiological ▫Aesthetic

Lawton (1993) – Leisure in later life  Solitude  Intrinsic satisfaction  Diversion  Relaxation  Intellectual challenge  Health  Personal competence  Expression and personal development  Creativity  Social interaction  Opportunity for service  Social status

Intrinsic motivation – activities that people do naturally and spontaneously when they feel free to follow their inner interests Leisure – not only pleasurable but good for you Competence – explore, experiment, persist, and succeed Individuals have a need to feel effective and interact successfully with their environment

Older individuals lose roles of competence Leisure activities can replace these roles Leisure opportunities should provide opportunities for challenge and progression from basic to advanced Leisure service professionals should provide a wide array of opportunities

Autonomy vs Heteronomy Self-organization vs. regulated by external forces Autonomy is different from independence You can be dependent for some needs but autonomous – intrinsic motivation, self- determination, self-regulation Provide choice and control for older adults in leisure (types and schedules)

Relatedness Feeling connected, cared for, and sense of belonging with significant others Intrinsic motivation will be more likely to flourish when including relatedness Older individuals reduce social ties and intensify the ones left Flow – Individual skills are harmonious with the demands of the activity Leisure service providers must give opportunity for individuals to identify outlets for Flow

Seeking and Escaping Seeking personal/interpersonal intrinsic rewards through leisure experiences Escaping personal/interpersonal environments through leisure experiences Leisure motivation is a matter of both Retirement > volunteer work > escape yet rewarding > must be a balance – pg 125

Optimum Arousal as Leisure Motivator Ellis (1973) – Individuals seek to be in a state of uncertainty and stimulation – Achieved through novelty in activity Arousal beneath or above an individual’s optimum level is unpleasant Leisure service providers must offer the appropriate balance with older individuals – stimulating, novel, challenge yet familiar and predictable

People are motivated by the search for personal meaning in life Programs designed to assist in the search help individuals find purpose in living Meaning in life – highest to lowest  Values that relate to the ultimate purpose of life  Devotion of time and energy to reach potential  Altruism – service to others Breadth and Depth are both important

Leisure Constraints Poor health Lack of opportunity Decline in visual acuity Lack of transportation Reduced income Fear of falling Physical/Cognitive limitations in general Money, time, facilities, companions, health

Leisure service providers can assist in identifying and removing barriers/constraints