Why do we play?

Roger Caillois (1958) proposes:

• Agon- Competition
• Alea- Luck
• Mimicry- Simulation
• Illinx- Vertigo

We play because of a desire to feel different

Focusing primarily on ‘Agon’ : Purpose of Competition*

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1990) - Symptoms of the Flow State:

• Complete concentration on the task
• Transformation of time (speeding up/slowing down)
• The experiences is intrinsically rewarding
• Effortless and ease
• Actions and awareness come together- lose self- consciousness