Reflections on Choice• Survey of Canadians in mid 80’s

– which of the following factors inhibits your participation in recreational activities

• ILL HEALTH, FAMILY TIES, FINANCIAL COST, LACK OF AVAILABLE FACILITIES, LACK OF A CAR, LACK OF TIME, OLD AGE, OTHER

%

• Lack of Time 52

• Financial Cost 17

• Ill Health & Old Age 11

• Family Ties 11

• Lack of Available Facilities 9

• Lack of a Car 5

• Lack of Equipment 4

• Misc 9

• Don’t Know 4

Conclusion

• Major factors in hindering participation in recreational activity are not physical

• Rather they are socio-cultural in nature

– also an indication that there are a great number of demands on our discretionary time - hence recreational participation will take up a small % of our time

ASSUMPTION OF BENEFIT

• Further assumptions that if planners or managers provide opportunities they will be beneficial to the society

• Some on the edge

– gambling as an example

• dependent on culture and timing

STATE OF MIND

• AVEDON

– Recreation: A personal sensation of well-being experienced in the process of anticipating, recalling, or engaging in any activity

STATE OF MIND

• PIEPER

– Leisure is a mental and spiritual attitude, not the inevitable result of spare time, a holiday, a weekend or a vacation. It is, in the first place an attitude of the mind, a condition of the soul.

STATE OF MIND

• GRAY AND GREBEN

– Recreation is an emotional condition within an individual human being that flows from a feeling of well being and self satisfaction. It reinforces a positive self-image.

STATE OF MIND

• DICTIONARY OF SOCIOLOGY - 1944

– Recreation has its own immediate appeal and is not impelled by a delayed reward beyond itself

SUMMARY

1 Recreation is in the eyes of the participant

2 Feeling of well being/attitude of uplift

3 Satisfaction from an individual standpoint

4 Immediate gratification

• This area - psychological, behavioural motivations - is one of the least researched by geographers.

• Reflected by various writers such as WALL - recreational research is about do-able things.– Study things that can be measured

• Not an accurate picture of a system that is very dependent on attitudes and feeling

CONSISTENCY?

• Recreation then is highly individually oriented - possibility of conflicts?

• Do we always have feelings of gratification from recreational activity?

• Can gratification be delayed so that future enjoyment is enhanced?

WHY INVESTIGATE?

• Definite reasons why we become concerned with the concepts of recreation and leisure

1 Leisure time has increased in our society for each individual• with the exception of this decade we assume

that this long term trend should continue

INDUSTRIAL WORKWEEK SINCE 1850

• Late 1800’s– 6 days work - 12 to 14 hrs per day– work week 78 hrs– weekly free time - 13 hrs

• Early 1900’s– 6 days work - 10 hrs per day– work week 60 hrs– weekly free time - 31 hrs

INDUSTRIAL WORKWEEK SINCE 1850

• 1920’s– 5 1/2 days work - 9 hrs per day– work week 50 hrs– weekly free time - 41 hrs

• 1950’s– 5 days work - 8 hrs per day– work week 40 hrs– weekly free time - 51 hrs

INDUSTRIAL WORKWEEK SINCE 1850

• 1980’s to present– 5 days work - 7 hrs per day– work week 35 hrs– weekly free time - 56 hrs

• Note: this is “in official notice” and assuming 8 hrs sleep and 3 hrs essential activities each day– increase in free time since 1850

• 331 %

• With these assumptions - Leisure time assumes about 33 to 40 % of an individuals time

• If leisure time increases then so should recreation time

• as this is an activity then corresponding expenditures will increase– equipment costs, fees, travel, development, and so on

• Leisure is also seen as an important social force that shapes and individuals attitude toward life.

• It is seen as an opportunity or challenge for an individual

• Association with the constructive use of free or discretionary time