What do we know about play?
Play is often dismissed as frivolous or childlike, but growing evidence suggests it plays important
Adult play and playfulness: A qualitative exploration of its meanings and importance
Most play research historically has focused on children; adult play and playfulness are less well understood.
Link
https://www.journalofplayinadulthood.org.uk/article/1258/galley/959/view/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Adult play and the evolution of tolerant and cooperative societies
Yet humans and many social mammals continue to exhibit play or play‐like behavior in adulthood, and such behavior may serve adaptive functions (social cohesion, stress regulation, creativity, etc.)
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763423000933?utm_source=chatgpt.com
A golden age of play for adults
In the adult context, play often takes different forms—hobbies, games, role‐play, improvisation, creative arts, workplace “gamification,” spontaneous social games, or playful thinking in everyday tasks.
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https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/golden-age-play-adults?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Adult Play and Playfulness: A Qualitative Exploration of its Meanings and Importance
Playfulness refers to a dispositional or attitudinal tendency to approach life with spontaneity, humor, and flexibility. Some adults may not “play” in classical ways (games, sports) yet still manifest playfulness in attitude and perception.
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https://www.journalofplayinadulthood.org.uk/article/id/1258/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
A Brain Motivated to Play: Insights into the Neurobiology of Playfulness
Key brain regions implicated include prefrontal cortex (executive and regulatory control), dorsal/ventral striatum (reward, motivation), amygdala (emotion), and habenula (inhibitory/limiting circuits) in the modulation of playful behavior.
Learn More:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5646690/?utm_source=chatgpt.com