4. Play

Question 1

what is the definition of play

Answer 1

The motor activity performed post-natally that appears to be purposeless, in which motor patterns from other contexts than used in modified forms and altered temporal sequences

Question 2

Three reason play may be purposeless

Answer 2

Failure to decipher causality of play; Delayed benefits to engaging in play behavior; Benefits may be multiple and confounding

Question 3

Criteria for identifying play behavior

Answer 3

Limited immediate function; Endogenous component; Structural or temporal difference; Repeated performance; Relaxed field

Question 4

what is limited immediate function in play behavior

Answer 4

play behavior is not fully functional for the context in which it occurs, does not contribute to the survival of the playing animal

Question 5

what is endogenous component in play behavior

Answer 5

Play behavior is voluntary and rewarding as if the animal engages in play for its own sake

Question 6

what is structural or temporal difference in play behavior

Answer 6

relative to serious behavior, play behavior is incomplete, exaggerated, awkward, modified in terms of its target

Question 7

what is repeated performance in play behavior

Answer 7

play behavior is repetitive, not stereotypical

Question 8

what is relaxed field in play behavior

Answer 8

play behavior is initiated in healthy, low stress, relaxed and free from threat conditions

Question 9

Levels of play behavior in mammals

Answer 9

pronounced

Question 10

Levels of play behavior in birds

Answer 10

common

Question 11

Levels of play behavior in fish/reptiles

Answer 11

rare

Question 12

Levels of play behavior in invertebrates

Answer 12

none

Question 13

who studied the phylogeny of play

Answer 13

Burghardt

Question 14

what are the physical movements of play

Answer 14

social play, object play, locomotive play

Question 15

what is social play

Answer 15

play between individual (e.g. rough-n-tumble)

Question 16

what is object play

Answer 16

playful use or manipulation of inanimate objects (e.g. toys)

Question 17

what is locomotor play

Answer 17

play comprised of motor activity patterns (e.g., dancing )

Question 18

what are the sensory experience in play

Answer 18

curiosity and exploration

Question 19

what is curiosity

Answer 19

active scrutiny of objects akin to object play

Question 20

what is exploration

Answer 20

movement in which animals attends to new sensations akin to locomotor play

Question 21

what is primary process play

Answer 21

No long-term effects good or bad; Subcortical innate

Question 22

what is secondary process play

Answer 22

Maintains the condition of physical, behavioral and perceptual states of the animal; Learned emotions

Question 23

what is tertiary process play

Answer 23

Critical for reaching developmental milestones; Episodic memory and symbolic thought

Question 24

what are the benefits of object play

Answer 24

Solitary or social; Provides opportunity to practice motor coordination and eye-motor skills; Serves as form of practice in handling objects like prey; Precursor to learning tool use in primates

Question 25

what are the characteristics of locomotor play

Answer 25

Solitary locomotor play involves vigorous running and twisting (ungulates) and somersaulting (primates); Considered earliest form of play behavior both developmentally and evolutionary

Question 26

what are the two theories of locomotor play

Answer 26

Exercises/motor skill development; Exploration/spatial knowledge

Question 27

which is the most studied play behavior

Answer 27

social play

Question 28

what are the three benefits of social play

Answer 28

Formation of long-lasting social bonds; Promote fine-tuned skills involved in fighting, mating, and hunting; Promotes development of cognitive skills

Question 29

how does play affect self assessment

Answer 29

play as a means to monitor developmental progress compared with others

Question 30

what are the regulations of play

Answer 30

Rules that promote social flexibility; Awareness of fairness, role reversal self-handicapping

Question 31

what are the factors of the evolution of play

Answer 31

social/group living; Longer developmental period and high parental care/investment; Larger brains

Question 32

what are the possible biological functions of the evolution of play

Answer 32

Benefit outweighs cost; Developmental scaffolding; Practice survival behavior in relatively safer contexts; Learn about environment

Question 33

what are the three different theories of play

Answer 33

Practice of skill and instincts; Surplus resource theory (SRT); Training for unexpected events

Question 34

how is practice of skill and instincts beneficial for play

Answer 34

Play affords the honing of skills related to adult survival (Motor training benefits)

Question 35

how is surplus resource theory (SRT) beneficial for play

Answer 35

Play is going to be much more prominent, even within the same species, when the animal has ample resources available.

Question 36

how is training for unexpected events beneficial for play

Answer 36

Play increases the versatility of motor control and ability to cope with unexpected and stressful events

Question 37

in what type of environment should play be prevalent

Answer 37

changing environments

Question 38

what happens when you deprive an animal of social play

Answer 38

results in maladaptive behavior

Question 39

why is self handicapping beneficial in play

Answer 39

is beneficial for unexpected social interactions

Question 40

what is third order intentionality

Answer 40

Animal (a) wants animal (b) to believe that (a) want to play (d), not seriously, but with other goals (fun); Involve three levels of mental states