RST 100 1st Edition Lecture 5Outline of Last Lecture I. Definitions of TheoriesII. Neulinger’s ParadigmIII. Serious LeisureIV. Compensation and SpilloverV. FlowOutline of Current Lecture I. Optimal Level of ArousalII. Sensation Seeking TheoryIII. Reversal TheoryIV. Self-as-EntertainmentV. Anti-StructureCurrent LectureFebruary 3rd, 2015 Continuation of Chapter 3Never 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 compatibleThese 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 summero Eat at a McDonald’s in ChinaSensation 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 boringo 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 leisurechoices o Restaurant example: like it or might noto People may need to be in right mood in order to attend a certain areao Connected to other theory – still variability - Telic – serious state of mindo Arousal-avoidingo Goal-orientedo Serious mindedo Future-orientedo Planning aheado Prefer important activityo Attempt to complete activity - Paratelic – more playful state of mind – usually children, laugh more, less seriouso Arousal-seekingo Sensation-orientedo Playfulo Present orientedo Spontaneouso Prefer unimportant activityo Attempt to prolong activityo Live in the moment kind of persono Some people easily able to switch into this sate of mineWhat 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 ArousalTelic – more arousal makes you anxious, little is relaxing and enjoyableParatelic – 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 timesatisfactorilySelf-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 doLow 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