Abstract

In this article we question a psychologized view of the individual as the appropriate unit of analysis in leisure studies. We then advocate for a social/relational view that sees the individual as both whole and part of something larger. Employing family leisure to make our case, we also show how a social/relational perspective rooted in General Systems Theory casts new light on motivation, freedom, and constraint in leisure contexts. We conclude by calling for new definitions of leisure and recreation based on humankind’s social embeddedness as well as new research propositions that better reflect a systems view of the world.