The impact of play on community at work
The impact of play on community at work
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Issue Date
2005
Authors
Sever, Rita
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Abstract
Play has been recognized as crucial in the development of children, and psychologists now believe that it is also critical for the well being of adults. Since adults spend at least 1/3 of each day at work, it is curious that there are apparently only anecdotal studies about the influence of play at work.
stress
Play provides three primary purposes that are relevant to the workplace: learning, stress-reduction, and interpersonal connection. This study will focus on the aspect of interpersonal connection.
The leap beyond teamwork to community is described in the literature as happening when people become human and real to each other. Several authors venture into a discussion about community in terms of an intangible sense of "spirit" that is nonreligious and speaks to the common humanity of coworkers (Conger, 1994; Gozdz, 1995 and Gordon, 2003). The workplace community is described synergistically and claims a connection of caring between its members that transcends strict work requirements.
This study was formulated to look at the kind of fun and games that are played for their own sake. Lessons about teamwork may be learned, but more importantly people experience interpersonal connection. Lessons about diversity may be grasped, but more importantly coworkers see each other as playmates. The play I studied could facilitate coworkers being more authentic together, in forget-yourself play. In many ways, the point of the play in this study was simply to be real together, to play and connect to each other's humanity. Did playing together build community at work?
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Psychology