Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Project

Trent Cruz presented a highly theorized reflection on how play in video games reinforces narratives of the past that may differ from historical truth. The author explained that such narratives work because they feel authentic.

Daniel Dustin and Keri Schwab discussed the origins of Recreational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation and whether the two phrases mean the same thing.

Simona Livescu offered a comprehensive and historical view of theories of play. The author evaluated varied interpretations of play from Ancient Greeks to poststructuralists.

The authors offered a scientific explanation about how creative art therapies support healing from trauma.

This paper considers the role of nostalgia-based leisure in the present COVID-19 pandemic. Enforced lockdowns and social distancing initiatives have been met with various media channels replaying famous sport matches, classic films and memorable concerts from the past. Furthermore, social media is full of families interacting more; playing traditional board games and numerous other leisure-related activities such as baking bread and making fresh pasta. Nostalgia may well end up being one of the primary coping mechanisms (for all generations) of enduring isolation, fear - and a general loss of freedom. It is also worth considering whether we are now creating our own future nostalgia where, when the crisis is through, we will long for the social bonds and sense of community the pandemic created.

Nostalgia plays a crucial role in individuals' psychological and behavioral responses. To identify the influence of nostalgia on leisure participants' life, this study examined how individuals' leisure nostalgia influenced their life satisfaction, thereby reinforcing their leisure participation intention. 417 responses were collected from leisure participants and analyzed in this study. Results showed that leisure nostalgia positively affected life satisfaction and leisure participation intention. In addition, life satisfaction had a significant effect on leisure participation intention. Further analysis revealed that the indirect effects of nostalgia regarding group identity and personal identity on leisure participation intention were significantly stronger than those of nostalgia regarding leisure experience, environment, and socialization. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.

What psychological purpose does nostalgia serve? Is it good or bad? Are we more nostalgic today in our hectic, connected world? Is there such a thing as the “good ‘ol days”? Here to help explain is Krystine Batcho, PhD, professor of psychology at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York. She’s an expert on nostalgia and developed the Nostalgia Inventory, a survey that assesses proneness to personal nostalgia.