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This paper highlights the potential roles of implicit bias and implicit association testing (IAT) in the practice of reflexivity. In the paper, eight leisure scholars reflected on their explicit and implicit prejudice and privilege and its influence on their efforts to conduct critical leisure research. Data were collected from these scholars in three stages. First, participant-researchers engaged in a 'conscious,' written, personal reflexive exercise considering their biases and how these biases influenced their research. Second, participants completed four IATs – a parallel 'unconscious' reflexive exercise. Third, participants individually and collectively reflected on results of the IATs in relation to their conscious responses. The authors report results from thematic analyses of these reflections; consider practical opportunities, challenges, and cautions associated with using implicit measures to denote one's positionality; and initiate a theory driven discussion of broader uses of implicit measures in critical leisure research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, the relationship between humans and food is complex. The necessity of food for life has resulted in food being important in structuring life and identity. The increasing stronghold of the agrofood complex (e.g. Big Food) in the production and engineering of food is taking a toll on socio-ecological systems. Using Harro's (2018a. "The Cycle of Socialisation." In Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, edited by A. Adams, W. J. Blumenfeld, C. Casteneda, H. W. Hackman, M. L. Peters, and X. Zuniga, 45–52. New York: Routledge) Cycle of Socialization as a framework, we examine how humans have been socialized to value and depend on engineered foods to the detriment of human and environmental health and propose the Cycle of Food Socialization. Dominant socializing forces of contemporary mass food production, eating habits, and perceptions of food keep us trapped in a cycle of unhealthy behaviours that make food more of an enemy than friend. We further propose that growing interest in locally farmed and naturally produced food as a leisure pursuit is uniquely positioned as a pathway to liberation from this cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an overview of the articles appearing in The Journal of Positive Psychology's special issue on Leisure as well as a summary of the overlap between positive psychology and leisure studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since their inception in the early- to mid-2000s, social media sites (SMS) have burgeoned into a popular leisure pursuit with millions of users worldwide. Defined as Internet-based software programs that facilitate communication among individuals, members use them to exchange information, develop friendships, and find social support. Despite their rapid growth as a leisure time activity, there is a dearth of research exploring use of SMS. Using social identity theory as a framework, this study uses quantitative and qualitative data to explore how people who identified as “Penn Staters” used SMS to connect with others and exchange information during and in the wake of the breaking news of the Sandusky Scandal (SS). As predicted, highly identified Penn Staters used SMS to cope with news of the SS. However, interesting variations in usage based on demographic information are presented and discussed, providing greater insight into this increasingly popular leisure trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]