Enhancing the Leisure Experience: Motivations, Meanings and ConstraintsChapter 7HPR 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