Introduction

Abstract

Leisure plays a key role in positive psychology, though it would be difficult to reach this conclusion from the infrequency with which the idea surfaces in the field’s publications and intellectual discussions. This book shows how theory and research from the interdisciplinary field of leisure studies, more specifically from the serious leisure perspective (SLP), can be used to join the two fields, which have so much to offer each other. Thus, positive interpersonal relationships and positive emotional and cognitive states and processes — the stuff of positive psychology — are expressed or realized in myriad leisure activities (i.e., sets of particular behaviors). These activities are highly appealing, thereby providing their own motivational push. Leisure is defined and conceptualized as a kind of activity. General activities include the pursuit of certain core activities, which constitute powerful reasons for engaging in such leisure.