RST 100 1st Edition Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture I II III IV V Definitions of Theories Neulinger s Paradigm Serious Leisure Compensation and Spillover Flow Outline of Current Lecture I II III IV V Optimal Level of Arousal Sensation Seeking Theory Reversal Theory Self as Entertainment Anti Structure Current Lecture February 3rd 2015 Continuation of Chapter 3 Never Leave the Playground Video Jepson inventor retired Art Professor Optimal Level of Arousal not in book Related to flow but more general No focused on a specific activity We have an optimal level of arousal and this affects our leisure choices We feel best and perform best when in this optimal range Baseline how aroused a person feels without external stimulation Like Flow too much stimuli anxiety Too little stimuli boredom We try to match our leisure choices to our optimal level of arousal This theory helps explain why some people are not compatible These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute o She s kind of boring OR She s too wild and unpredictable Connected to Tourism Allocentric definitions not in book should know for exam tourists who try new things don t like things being organized or planned and do not return to the same destination adventurous Midcentric Tourists who go to places that have been popularized by the allocentrics they are not as adventurous Psychocentric tourists who like things being planned and are afraid to take risks often travel to places that are familiar o Ex know what to expect go to same beach house every summer o Eat at a McDonald s in China Sensation Seeking Theory Also not in book Marvin Zuckermann why some people do some activities and some others do not Individuals seek activities and experiences that gratify their need for sensation Personality trait with a biological basis People have different levels The search for the perfect high High sensation people are likely to be attracted to both high and low sensation people Low sensation people are usually happiest with low sensation people typically not entirely Vocation high sensation seekers like new challenges jobs that have a lot of variability not routine or boring o Sometimes more likely to quit job Sensation Seeking Scale link What is more like you o Ex crazy parties or quite parties with people you know Reversal Theory Premise describes how people regularly shift between psychological states These shifts have to do with psychological states and their impact on our leisure choices o Restaurant example like it or might not o People may need to be in right mood in order to attend a certain area o Connected to other theory still variability Telic serious state of mind o Arousal avoiding o Goal oriented o Serious minded o Future oriented o Planning ahead o Prefer important activity o Attempt to complete activity Paratelic more playful state of mind usually children laugh more less serious o Arousal seeking o Sensation oriented o Playful o Present oriented o Spontaneous o Prefer unimportant activity o Attempt to prolong activity o Live in the moment kind of person o Some people easily able to switch into this sate of mine What this says about behavior When in Telic serious state low arousal experiences as calmness high arousal experiences as anxiety When in Paratelic playful low arousal experiences as boredom high arousal experiences as excitement Reversal Theory Model of Arousal Telic more arousal makes you anxious little is relaxing and enjoyable Paratelic more arousal is exciting and fun less is boring Research on theory says More often in telic state at work or school More often in paratelic state at leisure travel sports recreation I clicker question self as entertainment People who are high on the self as entertainment trait are able to fill free time satisfactorily Self as Entertainment Mannell Based on individual personality differences People differ in their ability to fill free time with personally rewarding activities Match between free time and capacity to meaningfully fill it o Some people get anxious with too much free time others excited to be able to find things to do Low versus High SAE High SAE typically have a good match between free time and ability to meaningfully fill it Low SAE often feel they have too much free time with nothing to do People differ in how they seek entertainment or diversion during their free time internal versus external sources o TV Cell Phones Computer Games Anti Structure Anthrologist Leisure is what takes us outside normal life Leisure is anti or opposite of structure Removal from everyday routine Explanation for our different behavior in sports vacations and other leisure activities o What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas When we are at play we will act completely different then we are not at play Two Concepts Liminality threshold a transitional stage from everyday to outside the everyday Space free of typical societal norms and structures Communitas a temporary sense of social camaraderie Loosely structured community of equal individuals Social distinctions become irrelevant during anti structure time o Who is who where we come from doesn t matter at this point