Leisure Theory

QUOTE

Alex de Tocqueville once said…

“Leisure is not the end but the beginning of personal development.”

(French aristocrat, diplomat, and historian.)

CONCEPT

Leisure Theory

Leisure Theory suggests that leisure, defined as any freely chosen activity after obligatory activities such as work, education, and personal upkeep are completed, is essential for improving quality of life, fostering individual growth, and maintaining social bonds.

The theory categorizes leisure activities into three types: serious leisure, casual leisure, and project-based leisure.

• Serious leisure involves substantial personal effort and perseverance, such as playing a musical instrument or engaging in a sport.

• Casual leisure is immediately, intrinsically rewarding, relatively short-lived, pleasurable activity requiring little or no special training to enjoy it, like watching TV or taking a casual walk.

• Project-based leisure is a short-term, reasonably complicated, one-off or occasional though infrequent creative undertaking carried out in free time, such as organizing a charity event or building a garden.

STORY

Checkmate … Inmates?

Chicago’s Cook County Jail is one of the largest and toughest detention facilities in the United States. In 2012, Dr. Mikhail Korenman initiated a chess program for the inmates, introducing the game as part of a broader educational and rehabilitation strategy.

The idea was to use chess as a tool to encourage critical thinking, improve emotional regulation, and offer a constructive outlet for the inmates’ time—key aspects of Leisure Theory.

The program started small but soon expanded due to its popularity among the inmates. The results were surprising and dramatic. Not only did participation in chess reduce behavioral problems, but it also sparked a remarkable change in the atmosphere within the prison.

Inmates, many of whom had never played chess before, embraced the game with intense enthusiasm.

The data from the program showed significant improvements in the behavior and well-being of the participants. Recidivism rates—a critical measure of rehabilitation success—were notably lower among the inmates who participated in the chess program compared to the general prison population.

This was a striking validation of Leisure Theory, demonstrating how serious leisure activities can foster self-improvement and even alter life trajectories.

The Cook County Jail chess program illustrates that even in the most unlikely settings, leisure can be a catalyst for dramatic change and personal growth.