Psychological experience of leisure (in first person) Essay

Psychological experience of leisure (in first person) - Essay Example However, leisure and the role of leisure in our day lives in terms of the psychological motivations and the elements which combine together to create a sense of leisure are only a recent development in the fields of psychology and sociology. There are instances where one person may find extreme relaxation while another may suffer extreme anxiety, for example, the idea of going to a classical music recital may appeal to some but may be considered torture by others (Caldwell, 1992). The definition of leisure is a complex one since there are a numbers of ways which accurately define what leisure is. In its broadest definition, it can be understood as time left after work is done as it is explained in contemporary terms by Roberts (1999). This does not include an application of this idea to those who are retired or those who have no employment to take up the majority of their time. Additionally, there can be situations where work itself becomes so absorbing and entertaining that it falls under the heading of Leisure (Haworth & Lewis, 2005). Therefore a personal definition of leisure is important and it can be said that a person intrinsically knows when they have experienced leisure as opposed to work that is mentally or physically draining. Additionally, a leisure activity may be influenced by guilt associated with indulgence and avoidance of work which might alter the nature of the experience as well as the quality (Bà ©rubà ©, 2005). In fact, Haworth and Lewis (2005) make the point that research on leisure should be conducted on an experiential basis focusing on the positive dimensions of the leisure experience by including aspects of motivation, autonomy and personal enjoyment. Such an experience of leisure would also cover serious leisure as discussed by Stebbins (2004), who differentiates between the forces of work, leisure and