1. BY:
JOCELYN M. GALLEGOS

2. The Nature of Leisure
Leisure is difficult to define because it means
something different to each person, yet scholars
have always been interested in the study of leisure.
The first attempt to understand leisure probably
took place about 300 B.C. The ancient Greeks were
intrigued by leisure, and the philosopher Aristotle
suggested a paradigm, or model, by which leisure
could be categorized. Aristotle proposed that
leisure occurs at three levels:
1. Amusement
2. recreation
3. contemplation (more on that later).

3. The Nature of Leisure
1. Khaldun
 was a historian who is also considered to be the father of sociology.
 Khaldun ranked these five desires in ascending order, with leisure at
the pinnacle of the pyramid.
2. Maslow - American psychologist
 emphasized the importance of certain activities in human life which
is similar to Khaldun’s. Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs begins
with basic physiological needs, which appear at the bottom of the
figure, and culminates with self-actualization, which makes up its
highest level.
 Maslow suggested that the human need for aesthetics
1. (appreciation of beauty and order) and cognition
2. (knowledge and understanding) precedes the need for
3. self-actualization.

4. The Nature of Leisure
Aristotle’s three level of leisure
Contemplation
Recreation
Amusement

5. A Comparison of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs with Khaldun’s
Hierarchy of Desires

6. WHAT IS LEISURE?
The word leisure is derived from the Latin word licer, which means
“to permit or allow.” Licer is also the Latin root of the word permission. This is
an important clue, and in this text leisure is defined as permission to do as
one pleases at one’s own pace, to participate in an activity of one’s choice, and
to abandon the activity at will. The leisure experience has three essential
elements:
1. Perceived freedom. One embarks on the experience at will and is also
able to leave it at will.
For example : You have the freedom to drive to the beach on a Sunday, stay as
long as you like, and leave when you’re tired. If you’re employed, realistically
you don’t have the freedom to make these choices during the workweek.
2. Autotelic activity - means having a purpose in and not apart from itself.
An autotelic activity, therefore, is one that is done through self-motivation
and not because of some external factor.
For example: A dedicated amateur plays soccer out of love of the game, not
for monetary gain.
3. Beneficial outcome. One undertakes the activity on the assumption that
doing so will yield some benefit. For example, you may work out at the gym to
lose weight, increase strength, or improve endurance.

7. WHAT IS LEISURE?
 According to Geoffrey Godbey, “leisure is… freedom from
the environment to act from compelling love in ways which
are personally pleasing, intuitively worthwhile and provide
a basis for faith.” (Godbey, 1985).
 Leisure is often defined by time and activity:
1. Time: free time for enjoyment
2. Activity: recreation activities.
(DeGraff, D., Debra, J., and DeGraaf, K., 1999)

8. WHAT IS LEISURE?
Leisure is often viewed as freely choosing to do
activities after responsibilities are completed.
These activities are enjoyable, pleasing, and relaxing
that are done during time that is not meant for other
jobs. (McGuire, F., Boyd, R., and Raymond, T., 1996).

9. Three distinct approaches to defining the leisure experience are outlined in the
next sections.
Leisure as Residual Time
British sociologist Parker defined leisure as residual
time, to be calculated in the following way. Beginning
with a 24-hour day, subtract the hours that are not
devoted to leisure: working, sleeping, eating, attending
to physical needs, and so forth Residual time means,
quite simply, time left over—in the case of leisure, time
left over after one has performed the tasks necessary to
exist (continue to be) and to subsist (have or acquire
the necessities of life, such as food and clothing).

10. In 1953, Nash, one of the pioneers of recreation
and leisure studies in America, supplied a paradigm
explaining the levels of participation in experiences
in which one takes part during free time.
Nash indicated that the abuse of free time is
possible.
Free time should be differentiated from existence
time
the time to fulfil one’s physical and psychological
needs and from subsistence time
the time to do work and conduct work related
activities

11. Three Sets of Time
Time for existence
Free time
Time for the subsistence

12. According to Nash’s lists of Free Time
1. Creativity
2. Active Participation
3. Emotional Participation
4. Killing Time
5. Injury to Self
6. Injury to Society

13. Leisure as Activities
Activity is commonly defined as the performance
of a specific deed or act. Although there is an almost
endless variety of human acts, they all have certain
characteristics in common.
For example, many human acts begin with a condition
of disequilibrium.
Shibutani - a Japanese American social psychologist in
the 1960s, suggested that one can analyze a human act
by breaking it down into functional units, or phases, as
outlined below:

14. Leisure as Activities
 I. The impulsive phase
the condition of disequilibrium sets an organism into
motion.
The act normally continues until equilibrium is
restored.
The simplest impulses are physiological: hunger,
fatigue, adverse environmental conditions, and assault
by a predator or an enemy.
Disequilibrium also can be of a social or psychological
nature, such as the feeling that you are not dressed
appropriately.
Boredom may also ignite a feeling of disequilibrium

15. Leisure as Activities
II. The perception phase
Once set in motion by a condition of disequilibrium,
the organism seeks to perceive in its environment
some means of achieving equilibrium. In the case of
boredom, you may perceive reaching equilibrium by
engaging in drawing.
III. The manipulation phase.
After perceiving a means of achieving equilibrium, you
next must manipulate yourself, others, or objects in
the environment. For example, in the case of boredom,
you think of what, where, and when to draw.

16. Leisure as Activities
IV. The consummation phase. In this final stage of the act,
equilibrium is restored—in the case of hunger, by eating. Except in
cases of physiological disequilibrium (hunger, fatigue, adverse
environmental conditions, assault), it is not always easy to
determine when consummation of an act has occurred. The key is
that striving has ceased and that the organism is once more in
balance.
V. Expressive and instrumental acts. For purposes of this
discussion, two types of acts are identified: expressive and
instrumental. An expressive act begins with an impulsive phase
and emphasizes the processes of perception and manipulation
rather than consummation. An instrumental act also begins with
an impulsive phase but focuses on consummation rather than
perception and manipulation. In the drawing example, is the
emphasis on drawing itself (expressive act) or on producing a
portrait to be sold (instrumental act)?

17. What are the different types of leisure activities?
1. Social: Activities done with other people
2. Creative: Activities, where a person makes or creates
something
3. Physical: Activities that require body movement
4. Cognitive: Activities that require a person to think
5. Relaxation: Activities, where a person does to feel
calm
6. Spiritual: Activities, where a person submits to a
higher power

18. What can leisure do for a person?
Leisure offers many benefits to participants. The
primary benefits include:
Improved health
Improved social relationships
 Improved physical fitness
Improved mental health
 Increased life satisfaction and enjoyment (and)
Personal development and growth.

19. What can leisure do for a person?
1. Reduce the risks of premature death.
2. Reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
3. Reduce the risk high blood pressure.
4. Reduce the risk high cholesterol.
5. Reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
6. Reduce the risk developing diabetes.
7. Reduce or maintain healthy muscles and joints.
8. Build and maintain body weight.
9. Reduce depression and anxiety.
10. Improve psychological well being.
11. Enhance work, reaction, and sports performance.

20. Leisure Skills Checklist
Directions: Place a checkmark in the column to identify your answer. Please be honest.
Statement about Leisure Always Some Never
1. Leisure helps me to stay well
2. Leisure helps me to cope with stress
3. Leisure helps me to cope with anger
4. Leisure helps me to feel positive
5. Leisure helps me cope with anxiety
6. Leisure makes me feel confident
7. Leisure makes me feel in control of my life.
8. Leisure improves my thinking skills
9. Leisure requires me to be responsible
10. Leisure helps me to appreciate nature
11. Leisure helps me to be a leader

21. Leisure Skills Checklist
Statement about Leisure Always Some Never
12. Leisure helps me to be creative
13. Leisure helps me to have adventure
14. Leisure helps me to be spiritual
15. Leisure makes me feel free
16. Leisure probably prevents diseases
17. Leisure probably improves my health
18. Leisure improves my physical strength
19. Leisure probably could prevent a stroke
20. Leisure probably improves my breathing
21. Leisure helps me cope with pain
22. Leisure helps me to lose weight

22. Leisure Skills Checklist
Statement about Leisure Always Some Never
23. Leisure improves my relationships
24. Leisure helps me to bond with my family.
25. Leisure helps me to have friendships
26. Leisure helps me to get along with others
27. Leisure helps me to appreciate life
28. Leisure helps me to feel important
29. Leisure helps me to have fun
30. Leisure helps me to stay occupied
31. Leisure keeps me off streets/ out of gangs
32. Leisure helps me to feel peace
33. Leisure provides entertainment for me
34. Leisure increases my time spent outdoors
35. Leisure is beneficial to my overall life

23. Interpretation: Leisure Skills Checklist
TOTAL SCORE:
 Under 13 You strongly do not believe that leisure is helping you or you do not participate in many
leisure activities.
 14 – 27 You think leisure is not helping you or you are not actively participating in many leisure
activities.
 28 – 41 You are undecided about leisure in your life.
 42 – 55 You believe you receive benefits from your leisure
 56 – 70 You strongly believe that you receive many benefits from your leisure.
 If you checked “Always” on statements 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 then you view leisure as being social.
You probably participate in activities with other people.
 If you checked “Always” on statements 2, 3, and 5 then you view leisure as relaxation. You
probably participate in activities that help you to relax.
 If you checked “Always” on statements 1, 16, 17, 19, and 20 then you view your leisure to be a way
to keep you healthy. You probably participate in activities that help to keep you fit and well.
 If you checked “Always” on statements 4, 6, 28, and 29 then you view your leisure as being a
positive experience. You probably participate in activities that make you feel good about life and
living.
 If you checked “Always” on statement 13 then your leisure helps you to be free and adventurous.
You probably participate in activities that require an element of risk.
 If you checked “Always” on statement 8 then you view your leisure as being intellectual. You
probably participate in activities that require concentration.
 If you checked “Always” on statements 10 and 34 then you view leisure as a way to appreciate
nature and the outdoors.

24. Leisure Skills: JUMBLE Word
 Directions: Find all the jumble or scrabble words
listed below.
1. SEISTIIVCTA
2. TNEMYOJNE
3. IESOBBH
4. MATLEN
5. TERS
6. FITSENEB
7. TIME FEER
8. ANCETOPRIM
9. RAKPS
10. WRADINGRE

25. Leisure Skills: JUMBLE Word
Directions: Find all the jumble or scrabble words listed
below.
1. TING COECTL
2. DOM EERF
3. TERESTIN
4. PYHISCAL
5. KILLSS
6. IESULER
7. UNF
8. LAXATIREON
9. RECTIONREA
10. HELATH

26. RECREATION
 is a term for which there is no universally agreed-on
definition.
 defined as voluntary participation in leisure activities that
are meaningful and enjoyable to the person involved. The
term embraces both indoor and outdoor activities and
refers to sports and exercise as well as to less physically
active pursuits.
 one aspect of the broader term leisure, which encompasses
not only vigorous activities such as softball and hiking but
also sedentary hobbies such as coin and stamp collecting as
well as more passive pastimes such as dozing in a hammock
or getting a relaxing facial.

27. RECREATION
The link between leisure and recreation was
probed by Aristotle. He suggested that leisure can be
classified into three overlapping categories:
contemplation, recreation, and amusement
1. Contemplation - is the act of considering
something with attention.
2. Recreation is the active, participatory aspect of
leisure.
3. Amusement is passive reception on the part of an
audience or spectators.

28. the term recreation is used to describe
activities in a variety of structured settings.
1. Public Recreation - Programs may be conducted indoors or
outdoors and may involve sports and fitness activities as well
as nature study and crafts.
2. Commercial Recreation - describes programs and activities
that are offered for profit on a fee basis.
3. Corporate Recreation - refers to activities sponsored by
companies and organizations for the benefit of their
employees.
4. Therapeutic Recreation - consists of programs offered by
both public and private agencies for the benefit of specific
populations.
5. Other Recreational Settings - Other recreational settings are
provided on an individual basis, as in playing golf at a private
club or participating in military recreation.