engleski

Games and Play

Games are indispensable ingredients of every culture and society. Although we are inclined to associate play with children, there is substantial evidence that play is also crucial for the well-being of adults. Play, in its different shapes and forms, may relieve stress, boost imagination, creativity, attention, memory, divergent thinking, problem-solving abilities, physical and mental fitness, while play deprivation may lead to feelings of futility and despair. Play is integrated in human lives not only in its evident forms such as sports and games (e.g., board or card games), but is also visible in humour and playfulness, various rituals, art, and many other human activities. During the 20th century, play underwent significant changes, both quantitative and qualitative, mainly because of the development of various technologies. First, shortened work hours free up more time to play. Second, thanks to the Internet, resources for play and play partners are easily accessible at any time and from any place. Third, it has become increasingly common and acceptable to assimilate play in daily life. It has become obvious that people prefer playful settings, and many companies have recognized the link between productivity and a fun work environment, adapting accordingly. Finally, video games and online games have become one of the leading industries in the world, and playing games has become the main leisure activity. The aim of this symposium is to further explore various types of play and its association to cognitive and emotional well-being. Tihana Brkljačić from the Catholic University of Croatia will open the symposium with a presentation of quantitative and qualitative research findings related to the motivation of adult play. Dragan Glavaš from the Catholic University of Croatia will present the results of recent research on the motivation of marathon runners. Filipa Ćavar, a student at the Catholic University of Croatia, will present a research conducted on gamers and related problematic behaviour. Maria Paluh, a student at the Catholic University of Croatia, will present a research on the effect of body position and body awareness on dancers’ dance moves duration and complexity. Marina Merkaš, from the Catholic University of Croatia will be the moderator and discussant of the symposium. She is an expert in developmental psychology with main interests in the fields of family relations, social competences of children, and social and emotional development in childhood and adolescence, but her areas of expertise also include the psychology of adulthood and aging. She has published around 20 scientific papers, among which her most influential contribution is in the area of leisure activities and well-being.

Play ; Games ; Well-Being ; Motivation

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