Adult Playfulness

Adult Playfulness

Reviewed by Faisal Zaidi

A disposition toward play measured in adults through spontaneous, expressive, creative, fun and silly facets.

What it is

In an online study of 268 adults, Proyer and Ruch found that humour, appreciation of beauty and excellence, creativity and teamwork were among the character strengths that best predicted playfulness, and that fun-related forms showed the strongest links.

In effect

The article on squishy fidget toys uses it as the research on play in adult life.

What it does not say

The study was an online survey of 268 adults and shows links between traits, not what makes anyone playful. It does not say that playfulness is the same for every adult or that it needs any particular object.

Sources

  1. Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W. (2011). The virtuousness of adult playfulness: The relation of playfulness with strengths of character. Psychology of Well-Being: Theory, Research and Practice, 1(1), 4.