Play, Playfulness, Creativity and Innovation
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2014 |
Authors: |
P. Bateson |
Publication/Journal: |
Animal Behavior and Cognition |
Keywords: |
animal play, applying ideas, human playfulness, novel solutions |
Abstract:
Play, as defined by biologists and psychologists, is probably heterogeneous. On the other hand, playfulness may be a unitary motivational state. Playful play as opposed to activities that merge into aggression is characterized by positive mood, intrinsic motivation, occurring in a protected context and easily disrupted by stress. Playful play is a good measure of positive welfare. It can occupy a substantial part of the waking-life of a young mammal or bird. Numerous functions for play have been proposed and they are by no means mutually exclusive, but some evidence indicates that those individual animals that play most are most likely to survive and reproduce. The link of playful play to creativity and hence to innovation in humans is strong. Considerable evidence suggests that coming up with new ideas requires a different mindset from usefully implementing a new idea.