Many adults look down at the concept of play. One only need look to a married couple; one in which one spouse plays video games and the other does not to see how “playing” is viewed as an immature pastime. Play, however, has existed throughout the history of society. The reason for play’s lengthy existence is its ability to inculcate societal values and teach the individual proper rights and behaviors that are important to the societal group.
We often play because, well, it’s fun. Play exists in multiple forms, but the act of playing incorporates various constants regardless of the chosen play activity. For example, play contains rules that players agree to and follow. To not follow the rules means the act of play disintegrates for those who do follow the rules. Nobody forces us to play. We do so voluntarily. We freely choose to play, or to not play. Force is not part of play, for if it were, then play would be something else entirely. Since we choose to play of our own accord, the act of playing is a manifestation, and representation, of personal liberty.
Another constant of play is that play occurs in a defined space. That defined space is where people come together through their own free will to follow the rules. By following the rules, we show respect to our fellow players. We understand that the space in which we play is a special kind of place. It is a place we choose to enter without the troubles and worries of our lives outside of that space. To put it simply, we consciously leave our troubles behind by entering the play space. This is why people often become irritated when someone violates the play space by bringing in controversial topics such as politics or religion. By recognizing the play space as a space that is special from other non-play spaces, the play space becomes special. The play space becomes sacred.
Players learn how to move within the play space. They learn how to act and what the proper forms of behavior look like within that space. By agreeing to the rules of play, players trust that others will also follow the rules. By accepting the space and rules of play people come together for mutual benefit. Play creates an environment of trust. And since play can involve players who work together to achieve a common goal, play creates an environment of teams and camaraderie (i.e. people working together in small groups).
Another interesting thing happens through play: Morality emerges through play. The rules and play space teach us how to interact with others. We expect others to follow the same rules, which allows us to trust people we have never met. Players learn which behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not. We learn how to treat others, whether those others are opponents or teammates. We learn how to manage our mistakes and failures, and how to learn from past behavior. We also learn how to win and lose. How we win and lose influences people’s willingness to play with us again in the future. Nobody likes a sore loser, or winner for that matter.
Games, therefore, help teach and reinforce cultural norms and mores. Society is replicated, albeit on a small scale, in the play space and through the act of play. Many games often develop their own sub-culture within the game. Such games are rife with their own unique history, language, heroes, and mythology.
Not only is play “fun,” but play can guide and teach us about ourselves and our culture. Games teach us how to adapt in our environment. And if we choose to get better at playing a specific game, the game can be a path of learning and self-improvement.