The Psychology of Play: Why It Matters More Than We Think
When we think of core psychological concepts, terms like motivation, emotion, and personality usually come to mind. Yet one fundamental human behaviour — play — has often been overlooked in modern psychology and consumer behaviour research.
Interestingly, if we look back over a century, early psychologists placed far greater emphasis on play. William James (1890) listed play as a basic human instinct, alongside shyness, curiosity, and fear. Similarly, Murray (1938) identified play as one of the essential human needs. Despite this historical importance, contemporary textbooks tend to sideline play, focusing instead on hedonism — the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain, often discussed through Freudian psychoanalysis and Bentham’s utilitarian view of human motivation.
But is play merely a way to seek pleasure? Not quite. Several perspectives expand our understanding of why humans (and animals) play:
1. Physiological Roots of Play
Researchers have linked play to brain and biochemical processes. Lindsley (1957) suggested that curiosity and playfulness are connected to neural systems favoring novelty. Later, Candace Pert (1997), the scientist who discovered opiate receptors in the brain, argued that play helps regulate emotions and promote healing by releasing beneficial hormones. She described play as a way of “loosening up our biochemical flow of information” and “healing our feelings.”
2. Evolutionary Perspective
From an evolutionary standpoint, play serves adaptive purposes. It helps children rehearse social roles (e.g., mock battles or playing house) and develop essential life skills. Play can also relieve stress, making it not just entertainment, but a survival-enhancing behaviour.
3. Play as a Personality Trait
Psychologists like Jackson (1967) and Zuckerman (1979) began treating playfulness as a measurable personality trait. Jackson’s scale described playful individuals as fun-seeking, social, light-hearted, and eager to engage in games or activities. Empirical findings revealed links between playfulness and sensation-seeking, suggesting that those who crave stimulation also tend to seek play.
4. Connections to Broader Traits
Building on this, hypotheses emerged suggesting that playfulness is positively associated with:
Arousal-seeking (those who enjoy excitement and novelty),
Sports interest,
Agreeableness and Extraversion (traits tied to sociability and positive emotions), and
Openness to experience (curiosity and receptiveness to new ideas).
Why This Matters Today
Although play is often dismissed as trivial, the research shows it is deeply tied to motivation, emotional well-being, and personality. Play isn’t just about fun — it contributes to stress reduction, social bonding, and personal growth. In a world increasingly focused on productivity, perhaps it’s time we give play the scientific and practical recognition it deserves.
Reference:
Mowen, J. C. (2000). The 3M Model of Motivation and Personality: Theory and Empirical Applications to Consumer Behavior. Springer US.
