ABSTRACT

Leisure becomes a precious and rare condition of the ‘soul’ when an elitist perspective is adopted. Less exclusively leisure may be viewed as simply a set of emotions or ‘state-of-mind’. Models are constructed that attempt to explain leisure totally in terms of other factors, usually economic or social. The social context of leisure does influence what is seen as possible, desirable and enjoyable. Leisure is, after all, learned behavior and the learning takes place in social relationships. Leisure retains an existential dimension, a reality of freedom. Marital interaction, play with children, visiting family or friends and family outings ranked with reading, listening to music and outdoor sports as the favored types of leisure. The ethnicity of leisure does not deny environmental influences on participation styles. In societies characterized by considerable cultural pluralism leisure may exhibit segregated locales that facilitate different interaction styles.