Problem 2 - RJ for Leisure Planning and Programming

Question: Give a summary of the theories that you've learnt today.

There are 3 main theories that are covered today.

-          Iso – Ahola Theory

-          John Neulinger Theory

-          Flow Theory

Iso – Ahola Theory

Leisure time is not = free time

Leisure time = (Free time – Obligatory non-work)

1.       Perceived freedom

a.       No internal nor external pressures to engage in leisure activities.

2.       Intrinsic Reward

a.       A sense of competence

b.      Uses certain skills

c.       A sense of accomplishments

3.       Social Interaction

a.       Companionship

b.      Social supports

c.       Develop of intimate relationship

When we have a higher sense of intrinsic motivation and sense of determination, the activity will grow from obligatory non-work to become free time activity and at a final stage where we feel that it leisure activity. I will talk about flow theory at the later part since both Iso – Ahola and Neulinger talks about it too.

Neulinger’s Paradigm/ Theory

Neulinger’s theory talk more on state of mind (mental), intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, perceived freedom and flow theory.

According to Neulinger, perceived freedom means how much choice we have in determining our own actions, e.g do we do certain things because it was a choice or was it because we felt that there is an action that is supposed to be done.

The 6 stages of minds refer to pure leisure, pure job, work-job, pure work, leisure-job and leisure-work.

Pure Leisure

This requires complete freedom from external control and it brings certain intrinsic rewards. It also means that one can enjoy the satisfactions derived from intrinsic rewards without having to pay attention to potential extrinsic ones and to be in control.

Leisure work

This means that the activity that we do are usually freely chosen by us and it is both extrinsically and intrinsically rewarding. So in simple term, we are not only just satisfying our mentality but at the same time satisfy the fact we are completing certain task. Note: A person can quits anytime whenever she or he is happy.

Leisure-Job

This refers to activity that is extrinsically rewarding and thus resembles a job. For example, I choose to work at a tuition centre because I find that teaching students and getting them prepared for exams is something that I love and the extrinsically it is both the pay and having the students to love me is something that I can’t find when I am working at Macdonald.

Pure Work

This refers to doing an activity under perceived constrain although it is suppose to be done for intrinsic reason. For example, I am doing homework and I find it interesting and enjoy doing it in the process, but that does not represent that I would want to do my homework if I am given a choice.

 Work-Job

This refers to activities that is done in constrain but have both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. For example, if I am to be married to a millionaire, I would not have to worry about working and studying hard for my future as my husband would have the capability to sponsor me to study at university.

Pure Job

This refers to activities that are engaged in by necessity and under constrain. There is no reward and most of time it includes negative connotation. Having to work to make ends meets is definitely a pure job.

Flow theory

There are 3 parts that makes up of the flow theory; perceived optimal arousal, perceived optimal challenges and unusual level of consciousness.

Perceived optimal arousal refers to the different level of challenges that can be either too simple that bores the participants or too tough that makes participants to doubt their capability.

Perceived optimal challenges refer to maximizing the positive impacts such as perceived competence level and minimizing the negative impacts such as anxiety.

Unusual level of consciousness refers to while enjoying an activity, the person will tend to be less aware of his surrounding, forgetting about the time and that he will tend to set a target that is hard yet achievable.

So for the flow theory to be applicable, I am learning to do abseiling, I started with abseiling at low level (storey 2) then I find that it is boring because it is such a short distance therefore my perceived optimal arousal is not there. I am to proceed to middle level (storey 4) then I find that it is challenging which mean my optimal arousal and optimal challenge is both met as I am afraid of height, I tend to be trying to conquer my fear which is a challenge and standing at storey 4 is considered as feeling arousal. I am then asked to proceed to the final stage (storey 5). I am quite sure if a choice given, I would not go for it because I my optimal arousal and challenge is at the peak, therefore I would not have agreed to go for it. But if I am forced to go for it, I might have higher anxiety but still will complete in the end, and that in the process of abseiling down, I might find that it is not that scary after all, so I would have forgotten how long I would spend abseiling down and enjoy hanging there.

Ok, I know you ask for summary, but I can’t seem to be able to form the picture yet. Read my pre-reading almost like never read, but definitely I am glad I have grasp certain ideas when reading it.

Iso – Ahola Theory

Leisure time is not = free time

Leisure time = (Free time – Obligatory non-work)

1.       Perceived freedom

a.       No internal nor external pressures to engage in leisure activities.

2.       Intrinsic Reward

a.       A sense of competence

b.      Uses certain skills

c.       A sense of accomplishments

3.       Social Interaction

a.       Companionship

b.      Social supports

c.       Develop of intimate relationship

When we have a higher sense of intrinsic motivation and sense of determination, the activity will grow from obligatory non-work to become free time activity and at a final stage where we feel that it leisure activity. I will talk about flow theory at the later part since both Iso – Ahola and Neulinger talks about it too.

Neulinger’s Paradigm/ Theory

Neulinger’s theory talk more on state of mind (mental), intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, perceived freedom and flow theory.

According to Neulinger, perceived freedom means how much choice we have in determining our own actions, e.g do we do certain things because it was a choice or was it because we felt that there is an action that is supposed to be done.

The 6 stages of minds refer to pure leisure, pure job, work-job, pure work, leisure-job and leisure-work.

Pure Leisure

This requires complete freedom from external control and it brings certain intrinsic rewards. It also means that one can enjoy the satisfactions derived from intrinsic rewards without having to pay attention to potential extrinsic ones and to be in control.

Leisure work

This means that the activity that we do are usually freely chosen by us and it is both extrinsically and intrinsically rewarding. So in simple term, we are not only just satisfying our mentality but at the same time satisfy the fact we are completing certain task. Note: A person can quits anytime whenever she or he is happy.

Leisure-Job

This refers to activity that is extrinsically rewarding and thus resembles a job. For example, I choose to work at a tuition centre because I find that teaching students and getting them prepared for exams is something that I love and the extrinsically it is both the pay and having the students to love me is something that I can’t find when I am working at Macdonald.

Pure Work

This refers to doing an activity under perceived constrain although it is suppose to be done for intrinsic reason. For example, I am doing homework and I find it interesting and enjoy doing it in the process, but that does not represent that I would want to do my homework if I am given a choice.

 Work-Job

This refers to activities that is done in constrain but have both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. For example, if I am to be married to a millionaire, I would not have to worry about working and studying hard for my future as my husband would have the capability to sponsor me to study at university.

Pure Job

This refers to activities that are engaged in by necessity and under constrain. There is no reward and most of time it includes negative connotation. Having to work to make ends meets is definitely a pure job.

Flow theory

There are 3 parts that makes up of the flow theory; perceived optimal arousal, perceived optimal challenges and unusual level of consciousness.

Perceived optimal arousal refers to the different level of challenges that can be either too simple that bores the participants or too tough that makes participants to doubt their capability.

Perceived optimal challenges refer to maximizing the positive impacts such as perceived competence level and minimizing the negative impacts such as anxiety.

Unusual level of consciousness refers to while enjoying an activity, the person will tend to be less aware of his surrounding, forgetting about the time and that he will tend to set a target that is hard yet achievable.

So for the flow theory to be applicable, I am learning to do abseiling, I started with abseiling at low level (storey 2) then I find that it is boring because it is such a short distance therefore my perceived optimal arousal is not there. I am to proceed to middle level (storey 4) then I find that it is challenging which mean my optimal arousal and optimal challenge is both met as I am afraid of height, I tend to be trying to conquer my fear which is a challenge and standing at storey 4 is considered as feeling arousal. I am then asked to proceed to the final stage (storey 5). I am quite sure if a choice given, I would not go for it because I my optimal arousal and challenge is at the peak, therefore I would not have agreed to go for it. But if I am forced to go for it, I might have higher anxiety but still will complete in the end, and that in the process of abseiling down, I might find that it is not that scary after all, so I would have forgotten how long I would spend abseiling down and enjoy hanging there.

Ok, I know you ask for summary, but I can’t seem to be able to form the picture yet. Read my pre-reading almost like never read, but definitely I am glad I have grasp certain ideas when reading it.