RPTM 120Leisure and Human Behavior

3 credits · Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management · Penn State

Leisure and Human Development introduces global concepts regarding leisure and health, from historical and contemporary perspectives, including forces shaping leisure behavior, and relationships among leisure, the environment, social institutions, and holistic well-being. Special attention is given to the role of leisure in individual and societal health and wellness, with applied examples from a U.S. context as well as international perspective. Main topics include: the role of leisure in past and present societies; the ways in which leisure, recreation, and play relate to personal health and wellness, the economy, personal identity, work, religion, sexuality, race, class, socio-economic status, time use patterns, and education; leisure's contribution to human development throughout the life course; the role of leisure in one's life, specialization in leisure activities, leisure careers, serious forms of leisure, and leisure and addiction; and trends in the world economy and culture, technology, urbanization and suburbanization, governance, and demography and how they may influence leisure behavior. Student performance is evaluated through exams and concept maps undertaken in class. Students also examine their own leisure by analyzing their use of time through various reflective writing assignments.