Why Adults Need to Play

When we think of play, we think of children. Play is seen as an activity that is reserved for children, a special period when they have the freedom and time to spend on frivolous activities that support their development. And play is important for children — numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of play for children’s cognitive, physical, and social development. It’s a key part of how children learn to explore the world and their own abilities. Animals also play as they are growing and evidence suggests it is critical for development. In juvenile brown bears, for example, higher levels of play predict greater likelihood of survival into adulthood.

Adult playing on bumper cars

Source: Zamrznuti tonovi/Shutterstock

This view that play is for children suggests that, suddenly, when we “mature” or turn 18, the need for play disappears. The interesting part about this is that the evidence suggests the need for play does not, in fact, disappear. Adult play is seen in board games, video games, sports, game shows, escape rooms, and so on. But how adults play appears to become increasingly constrained by social expectations. Adults are expected to behave in ways that are responsible, productive, and rational, and play is viewed as counter to all of these expectations.

So adults tend to disguise their play. They play under socially acceptable labels such as competition or fitness. If adults are caught playing by others, it can make them feel embarrassed and they will generate an “alibi” for playing. Building a model train with your child can be framed as “quality family time,” deflecting the possibility that you simply enjoy playing with trains.

Defining play is an ongoing debate within the scientific literature. Play can be thought of as a set of behaviors, such as games or roughhousing. But we’ve all experienced being forced to “play” something that we don’t enjoy – it might be a card game or video games or charades that make you feel bored, irritated, or stressed. This suggests that play cannot be defined by the behaviors. Play must be defined by the joy felt from participating in the behavior. Play can be alone or with others, complicated or simple, in person or online. The important part is the joy experienced from the activity.

Play appears to be tied to a biological drive present across children, adults, and animals. A neuroscientist, Jaak Panksepp, spent a lifetime studying drives. His focus was on animal drives and emotions, and he discovered play as a drive almost by accident. He found that the laboratory rats in his care seemed to enjoy being tickled [video here!]. They would return again and again to be tickled, as if they found the experience rewarding, while emitting high-pitched squeaks that resembled laughter. This might be viewed as anthropomorphism, that he was putting human emotions onto animals without evidence. But to him, the evidence was clear – the rats enjoyed play. He conducted a series of experiments that showed that play behaviors were driven by subcortical brain regions (sometimes called “lizard brain” regions because they are older and more instinctual). He also showed that rats who have been deprived of the ability to play showed a rebound effect, playing more when they had the opportunity. Long-term play deprivation resulted in issues later in life, particularly in their social skills.

Drives are not negotiable and they do not disappear over maturation. They represent core biological needs that motivate behavior, such as the need for food or safety or stimulation. They are experienced as intuitively compelling and the need grows stronger when not satisfied. This drive explains why adults continue to play even when they feel they must disguise or alibi their playful activities. Children aren’t the only ones who benefit from play. In adults, play generates positive affect, reduces stress, and fosters feelings of acceptance and trust with others. Over time, this can help us build the cognitive, physical, and social resources needed to not only survive but thrive in our lives.

If you are comfortable with play, take this research as permission to spend time in activities that create joy. Not just happiness, but intense, immersed joy. If you’re not comfortable with play and feel that you’re neglecting your duties and your mature role in society, you could be missing out on meeting a basic biological need and the growth that comes from play. Play isn’t just for children. Try it out. Find something that brings you joy, for no other reason than the activity itself.

This post was co-authored with Nabeel Bhimani, current lab manager of the Emotion Science Lab.