Identity Affirmation through Leisure Activities: Leisure Symbols of the Self

The development of a workbook to explore meaningful occupations after life-changing events

“…The theoretical relationship, grounded in a symbolic interactionist perspective, between identity and the activities in which we engage (Christiansen, 1999), is supported by a range of empirical work (e.g. Haggard and Williams, 1992;Hunter, 2008;Reynolds and Prior, 2003). Our occupations are powerful forces in the development of the self, by enabling the achievement of important goals and end-states and by allowing the expression of various dimensions of the self (Carlson et al, 2014).…”

Structures identitaires et expression créative à l’adolescence

“…mêmes ou par rapport aux autres (Haggard & Williams, 1992). Néanmoins, la relation entre loisir et développement de l'identité dépend du sexe et de la nature sexuée des activités investies (Shaw, Kleiber & Caldwell, 1995).…”

“…Ces loisirs, surtout lorsqu'ils permettent l'expression de la créativité (tels que ceux étudiés dans notre recherche), constituent une plateforme utile pour affirmer son identité (Haggard & Williams, 1992). L'investissement dans ce type d'activités pourrait donc être structurant parce qu'il implique des engagements, et fournit un support d'expression utile pour la construction de l'identité (Rothenberg, 1990).…”

A Qualitative Exploration of Female Surfers: Recreation Specialization, Motivations, and Perspectives

“…Mills (1985) analysis resulted in a confirmed existence of a hierarchy of participant motivations. A later study conducted by Haggard and Williams (1992) also confirmed the existence of a hierarchical structure among respondents engaging in leisure activities as a form of maintaining their identity. Their study focused on the highest need, self-actualization or self-affirmation of Maslow's model.…”

“…The authors argued that people possess two identities of 'self' that include the perceived self and the subjective self. The participation in leisure activities symbolizes the need to bring the perceived self into harmony with the subjective self (Haggard & Williams, 1992). Haggard and Williams (1992) concluded that each leisure engagement represents a set of identity images, which may be seen as a motivation to participate in specific leisure activities.…”