The more I read, the more I am fascinated with the topic of play. Play has a profound impact on many aspects of development and behavior. But what is play?
Behavior science has been trying to answer this question for decades. There are a lot of definitions out there, but I bet you have never been asked for your own definition. So, pause and answer for yourself, “What is play?”
(Find me on Instagram @carrieschmittotd and share your definition with me!)
Panksepp
If you have listened to my latest podcast, you may have heard my guest mention Panksepp’s work. Jaak Panksepp was a neuroscientist and neuro-biologist. One of his contributions was the discovery of seven motivational brain circuits – play being one of them (Panksepp, 2009).
His work may interest you if you are interested in the brain.
If you are more interested in the broader nervous system, you may enjoy Porges’ take on play.
Porges
Stephen Porges is the creator of the Polyvagal Theory (Porges, 2011). From this perspective, play is linked to a neural mechanism that enables mammals to shift between mobilized fight/flight and calm socially engaging states (Porges, 2015). This theory makes a great contribution to how play impacts behavior and takes into account both sensory and motor contributions.
Neuroscience is important because it gives us the science that explains what we see. These theories lay some of the foundation for future topics. While some people crave the science, others are looking for practicalities.
Brown
Dr. Stuart Brown’s work is just that… a practical attempt to apply what science is showing us about the importance of play. One of my favorite parts of his work is this list of the common, identifiable features of play:
*Apparently Purposeless (done for its own sake)
*Voluntary (not obligatory)
*Inherent Attraction (It’s fun and increases arousal)
*Freedom from time (lose sense of time passing)
*Diminished consciousness of self (separate from caring whether we look stupid)
*Improvisational potential (open to spontaneity and chance)
*Continuation desire (pleasure of doing it drives us to want more)
So many of these features resonate with my own conceptualization of play.
Now that we have defined play, next we will dive into how play impacts our being and behavior.
Next up… Play and attachment.
Know that if you ever have questions or insights—I’m only an email away (carrieschmittotd@gmail.com)
Fun fact: Jaak Panksepp is thought to have coined the term
Panksepp, 1991
“affective neuroscience”
References
Brown, S. L., & Vaughan, C. C. (2010). Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul. Avery.
Panksepp, J. (1991). “Affective neuroscience: a conceptual framework for the neurological study of emotions,” in International Reviews of Emotion Research, ed K. Strongman (Chichester: Wiley), 59–99
Panksepp, J. (2009). Brain emotional systems and qualities of mental life: From animal models of affect to implications for psycho therapeutics. In D. Fosha, D. Siegel, & M. Solomon (Eds). The healing power of emotion: Affective neuroscience, development, and clinical practice (pp. 1-26). New York, NY: Norton.
Porges, S.W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophsiological foundations of emotions, attachment, comunication, and self-regulation. New York: Norton.
Porges, S. W. (2015). Play as neural exercise: Insights from the Polyvagal Theory. Chapel Hill; Department of Psychiatry University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.