Why Play?

Research across neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral science suggests that play and playfulness are associated with differences in mood, social connection, creativity, and wellbeing •.

Play Is a Biological System

Affective neuroscience has argued that play is not just a cultural hobby but a core mammalian system. Jaak Panksepp proposed PLAY as one of the primary emotional action systems, supported by conserved neural circuitry across mammals •.

In animal models, social play is linked with neural systems involved in motivation, learning, and social development, which helps explain why play can influence how flexible and socially attuned a creature becomes •.

Adults Benefit from Play

Although much classic play research focuses on childhood, adult playfulness has been studied as a stable trait and as a pattern of behavior. In adults, playfulness has been associated with positive emotion, engagement, and life satisfaction •.

Adult playfulness has also been studied in relationships, where it is associated with positive relationship dynamics and satisfaction •.

Some studies in emerging adults report correlations between playfulness or playful engagement and emotional intelligence and resilience related measures •.

Play and Wellbeing

Reviews of adult play and playfulness generally find positive associations with wellbeing and adaptive functioning. This is not the same as proving play causes wellbeing, but it is a consistent pattern across studies •.

Playfulness is also linked to creativity relevant processes like cognitive flexibility and reframing, which can support creative problem solving and innovation •.

Play Across Contexts

Play research is interdisciplinary. It spans psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and education, and it is represented in peer reviewed journals such as the International Journal of Play , which publishes work on play across age groups and contexts •.

What This Research Does Not Claim

This page does not claim that play is a clinical treatment, a guaranteed pathway to healing trauma, or a substitute for therapy. Much of the adult play literature is correlational. What the research does show is consistent association between playfulness and indicators of emotional functioning, creativity, social connection, and resilience •.

Research Sources

  1. Brown, S. (2009). Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Avery.
  2. Chang, C. C., et al. (2015). Playfulness, emotional intelligence, and resilience. Social Behavior and Personality , 43(8), 1313–1324.
  3. Guitard, P., et al. (2005). Toward a better understanding of playfulness in adults. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health , 25(1), 9–22.
  4. International Journal of Play. Journal scope and aims. (Publisher page for the journal.)
  5. Magnuson, C. D., & Barnett, L. A. (2013). The playful advantage. Journal of Leisure Research , 45(2), 259–284.
  6. Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Oxford University Press.
  7. Panksepp, J., & Biven, L. (2012). The Archeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotions. Norton.
  8. Proyer, R. T. (2013). The well being of playful adults. The Journal of Positive Psychology , 8(6), 508–517.
  9. Proyer, R. T. (2017). A new structural model for the study of adult playfulness. Personality and Individual Differences , 108, 113–122.
  10. Proyer, R. T., et al. (2018). Playfulness and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Research in Personality , 72, 70–81.
  11. Siviy, S. M., & Panksepp, J. (2011). In search of the neural substrates for playfulness. Behavioural Brain Research , 217(2), 234–245.
  12. Sutton Smith, B. (1997). The Ambiguity of Play. Harvard University Press.
  13. van Vleet, M., & Feeney, B. C. (2015). Play behavior and resilience in adult romantic relationships. Personal Relationships , 22(2), 185–205.