4. Play Flashcards
what is the definition of play
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
Three reason play may be purposeless
Failure to decipher causality of play; Delayed benefits to engaging in play behavior; Benefits may be multiple and confounding
Criteria for identifying play behavior
Limited immediate function; Endogenous component; Structural or temporal difference; Repeated performance; Relaxed field
what is limited immediate function in play behavior
play behavior is not fully functional for the context in which it occurs, does not contribute to the survival of the playing animal
what is endogenous component in play behavior
Play behavior is voluntary and rewarding as if the animal engages in play for its own sake
what is structural or temporal difference in play behavior
relative to serious behavior, play behavior is incomplete, exaggerated, awkward, modified in terms of its target
what is repeated performance in play behavior
play behavior is repetitive, not stereotypical
what is relaxed field in play behavior
play behavior is initiated in healthy, low stress, relaxed and free from threat conditions
Levels of play behavior in mammals
pronounced
Levels of play behavior in birds
common
Levels of play behavior in fish/reptiles
rare
Levels of play behavior in invertebrates
none
who studied the phylogeny of play
Burghardt
what are the physical movements of play
social play, object play, locomotive play
what is social play
play between individual (e.g. rough-n-tumble)
what is object play
playful use or manipulation of inanimate objects (e.g. toys)
what is locomotor play
play comprised of motor activity patterns (e.g., dancing )
what are the sensory experience in play
curiosity and exploration
what is curiosity
active scrutiny of objects akin to object play
what is exploration
movement in which animals attends to new sensations akin to locomotor play
what is primary process play
No long-term effects good or bad; Subcortical innate
what is secondary process play
Maintains the condition of physical, behavioral and perceptual states of the animal; Learned emotions
what is tertiary process play
Critical for reaching developmental milestones; Episodic memory and symbolic thought
what are the benefits of object play
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
what are the characteristics of locomotor play
Solitary locomotor play involves vigorous running and twisting (ungulates) and somersaulting (primates); Considered earliest form of play behavior both developmentally and evolutionary
what are the two theories of locomotor play
Exercises/motor skill development; Exploration/spatial knowledge
which is the most studied play behavior
social play
what are the three benefits of social play
Formation of long-lasting social bonds; Promote fine-tuned skills involved in fighting, mating, and hunting; Promotes development of cognitive skills
how does play affect self assessment
play as a means to monitor developmental progress compared with others
what are the regulations of play
Rules that promote social flexibility; Awareness of fairness, role reversal self-handicapping
what are the factors of the evolution of play
social/group living; Longer developmental period and high parental care/investment; Larger brains
what are the possible biological functions of the evolution of play
Benefit outweighs cost; Developmental scaffolding; Practice survival behavior in relatively safer contexts; Learn about environment
what are the three different theories of play
Practice of skill and instincts; Surplus resource theory (SRT); Training for unexpected events
how is practice of skill and instincts beneficial for play
Play affords the honing of skills related to adult survival (Motor training benefits)
how is surplus resource theory (SRT) beneficial for play
Play is going to be much more prominent, even within the same species, when the animal has ample resources available.
how is training for unexpected events beneficial for play
Play increases the versatility of motor control and ability to cope with unexpected and stressful events
in what type of environment should play be prevalent
changing environments
what happens when you deprive an animal of social play
results in maladaptive behavior
why is self handicapping beneficial in play
is beneficial for unexpected social interactions
what is third order intentionality
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
