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Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure

Meanings, Motives and Lifelong Learning

Edited by Sam Elkington, Sean Gammon

To Be Published October 15th 2013 by Routledge – 224 pages

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      978-0-415-82989-2
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    Description

    We are entering a new era of leisure. Quality rather than quantity is now the focus of researchers, policymakers and managers. Technological change, an ageing population and a harsh economic climate are changing the values and practices of leisure, as well as the relationship between leisure, society and the individual. More than ever before, leisure is a state of mind.

    The Psychology of Leisure uses a psychological lens to introduce the most important trends in contemporary leisure in the Twenty-First Century, the nature of leisure experiences provided by the leisure industries, and innovative methodological approaches to the study of leisure. With contributions from some of the leading international figures in modern leisure studies, the book examines key philosophical and theoretical debates around leisure, with reference to concepts such as happiness, enjoyment and quality of life, as well as the most interesting contemporary themes in leisure studies, from youth leisure and ‘dark’ leisure to technology and adventure.

    Understanding changes in leisure helps us to better understand changes in wider society. The Psychology of Leisure is a perfect companion to any course in leisure studies, and useful reading for any student or scholar working in sociology, cultural studies, recreation, tourism, sport, or social psychology.

    Contents

    1. Introduction Part One: Meanings 2. Studying Leisure Experience in the Psychological Laboratory and Other Strange Notions 3. Escape from Time: The slow travel journey 4. Leisure and Happiness: An intricate relationship 5. Leisure and Spirituality in the 21st Century 6. Leisure, Life and Enjoyment 7. Leisure and Wellbeing: From the individual to society 8. Dialectics of Leisure in Later Life: Historic and linguistic perspectives Part Two: Motives 9. Facilitating Volunteering as Leisure: How not to take the fun out of everything 10. Playing in the Great Outdoors: Risk and adventure activities in the Twenty-first Century 11. I am what I pretend to be: Performance and deception in leisure 12. The Technological Mediation of Leisure in Contemporary Society 13. Sites of Serious Leisure 14. Consuming ‘Dark Leisure’: Sex, death and ontological meanings of the taboo 15. Youth and Leisure Experiences Part Three: Lifelong Learning 16. Cross-Cultural Similarities and Differences in a Comprehensive Leisure Behaviour Framework 17. Being a Leisurist … when learning and at work 18. New Pedagogies in Leisure 19. Leisure, Identities and Personal Growth 20. Keeping Leisure in Mind: Tales from the lectern

    Author Bio

    Dr Sam Elkington is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Management and Teaching Fellow at the University of Bedfordshire. Sam’s research reflects his interests in phenomenology and pedagogy, namely, the Social Psychological dimensions of sport and leisure experiences and the nature, policy and practice of Sport and Leisure Education. He also takes an active interest in pedagogic development in relation to integrated approaches to the academic engagement of students and staff, as well as academic identity work.

    Dr Sean Gammon is based at the University of Central Lancashire, within the School of Sport, Tourism and the Outdoors. He has researched and published widely in the area of sport tourism; predominantly focusing upon consumer motives and experiences at sport heritage sites. In addition Sean has researched into the effectiveness of applying autotelic structures in the delivery of higher education courses to improve student creativity. He is presently co-editing a special issue of the International Journal of Heritage Studies, examining the Olympics, heritage, identity and performance.

    Name: Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure: Meanings, Motives and Lifelong Learning (Paperback) – Routledge 
    Description: Edited by Sam Elkington, Sean Gammon. We are entering a new era of leisure. Quality rather than quantity is now the focus of researchers, policymakers and managers. Technological change, an ageing population and a harsh economic climate are changing the values and practices of leisure, as...
    Categories: Leisure Studies, Leisure, Social Psychology, Leisure Management