Theory in Context and Out

Theory in and out of Contextr furthers discourse and understanding about the complex phenomenon we know as play. Play, as a human and animal activity, can be understood in terms of cultural, social, evolutionary, psychological, and philosophical perspectives.This effort necessarily includes inquiry from a range of disciplines, including history, sociology, psychology, education, biology, anthropology, and leisure studies. Work from a number of those disciplines is represented in this book. This volume includes sections covering Foundations and Theory of Play, Gender and Children's Play, Theory of Mind, Adult-Child Play, and Classroom Play. Scholarly analyses and reports of research from diverse disciplines amplify our understanding of play in Western and non-Western societies.

Alfredo Benavides is a faculty member in the College of Education at Arizona State University, Tempe. Anita C. Bundy is on the occupational therapy faculty at Colorado State University's College of Applied Human Sciences, Fort Collins. Stephanie M. Carlson is a graduate student in psychology at the University of Oregon. Garry Chick is a professor in the recreation and park management program, College of Health and Human Development at Pennsylvania State University. He is a former president of The Association for the Study of Play. Jui-Chih Chin is on the early childhood faculty of Taipei Municipal Teachers College, Taiwan. James F. Christie is professor in the reading education program at Arizona State University, Tempe. Susan M. Corl is a graduate student in curriculum and instruction at Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Gwen Davies teaches in the education program at Georgia State University, Atlanta. Cheryl Dissanayake is a lecturer in developmental psychology at the School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia. Arleen T. Dodd is on the faculty at the C. W. Post campus of Long Island University, Brookville, New York. Beth Farokhi is on the faculty of the Georgia State University, Atlanta. Lynn Gerow is a graduate student in psychology at the University of Oregon. My-Ae Han is on the faculty in the College of Education at Arizona State University, Tempe. Thomas S. Henricks is a professor of sociology at Elon College in North Carolina. Robyn M. Holmes is associate professor of psychology at Monmouth College, West Long Branch, New Jersey. Olga S. Jarrett is associate professor of early childhood education at Georgia State University, Atlanta. James E. Johnson is professor of curriculum and instruction, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Robert D. Kavanaugh is professor in the psychology department at Williams College. Angeline Lillard is a faculty member in the psychology department at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. She orchestrated the Theory of Mind section in this volume. Mark Nielsen is a doctoral student in developmental psychology at the School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia. Carolyn Porter completed her graduate studies in occupational therapy faculty at Colorado State University's College of Applied Human Sciences. Stuart Reifel is professor in the early childhood education program at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a former president of The Association for the Study of Play and founding editor of Play and Culture Studies. Warren P. Roberts is a doctoral student in anthropology at the University of Georgia, Athens. Cosby S. Rogers is professor of family and child development at Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg. Olivia N. Saracho is professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Maryland, College Park. Stephanie Shine teaches human development and family studies at Texas Tech University, Lubbock. Kjetil Steinsholt teaches philosophy of education in the College of Early Childhood Education, Queens Mauds College, Trondheim, Norway. Thomas Suddendorf is on the faculty of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Brian Sutton-Smith is professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former president of The Association for the Study of Play. Marjorie Taylor is professor of psychology at the University of Oregon. Julie Tietz is assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Elin Traasdahl lectures on play in the College of Early Childhood Education, Queens Mauds College, Trondheim, Norway. Derek Van Rheenen studies folklore and teaches in the education department at the University of California, Berkeley. Susan J. Welteroth is a graduate student in curriculum and instruction at Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Jeanne T. Wilson is on the faculty at the University of Memphis, Tennessee. Catherine Young teaches at Parkland Elementary School in the Atlanta, Georgia area.