Leisure and positive emotions

Question 1

EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Answer 1

The “feeling component” of our overall health
 Emotional regulation
 Self-esteem
 Self-confidence
 Happiness

Question 2

Classical psychology

Answer 2

focus on the negative, problems with the human mind
 Anxiety, depression, obsession, paranoia, etc.
Main goal: To bring patients from negative mental state to norma

Question 3

Positive psychology

Answer 3

Going beyond “normal”
Main goal: How do we make people flourish?
 What experiences/activities give us satisfaction? What makes us happy

Question 4

Pessimistic view

Answer 4

We cannot permanently change our happiness
 50%-80% of our happiness levels are genetically defined
 Even major life events may not permanently change our happiness

Question 5

Hedonic Treadmill

Answer 5

Changes in happiness are temporary
 Adaptation

Question 6

HEDONIC TREADMILL

Answer 6

Wealth and material possessions are linked to these temporary spikes
 Cycle of consumption leaves us unhappy in the long run
Example in a leisure context?
You get a new toy as a young kid
 A short spike in happiness
 That wears off quickly

Question 7

Consumerism

Answer 7

Economic system that encourages constant/increasing
acquisition of goods and services

Question 8

Optimistic view

Answer 8

We can change our happiness baseline

Question 9

Three “happy lives” that can be pursued:

Answer 9

Pleasure: Short-term, momentary experience that feels good
2. Engagement: Deeper involvement with family, work, friends, etc.
3. Meaning: Purpose, being a part of something bigger than ourselves

Question 10

Pleasure is the least consequential

Answer 10

to authentic happiness
 Benefits of the pleasurable life are generally short-term

Question 11

AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS

Answer 11

 Positive emotions such as happiness, excitement, satisfaction, etc.
 Engagement in activities over time, and in the moment
 Relationships with others
 Meaning and purpose in life
 Accomplishments in the pursuit of success and mastery

Question 12

Leisure is

Answer 12

is a “pathway” to emotional health
1. Leisure as intervention
2. Leisure outcomes
3. Leisure landscapes

Question 13

Intentionally using leisure

Answer 13

as a tool to enhance emotional health
 Therapeutic recreation: deliberately using recreation to enhance health

Question 14

Emotional health as an outcome or byproduct of leisure participatio

Answer 14

Leisure in this instance not used in a deliberate fashion as an intervention
 Motivated to participate for some other reason
Examples?
Starting an exercise program for fitness and feeling happier, more energetic,
less stressed

Question 15

Holistic leisure context

Answer 15

contributes to emotional health
Combination of different elements of the leisure experience
 Places
 People
 Emotions
 Memories

Question 16

Place dependence:

Answer 16

functional bond

Question 17

Place identity

Answer 17

emotional bond