OCT 1111Y1Y What Do People Do ? Chapter 4 in Introduction to Occupation (The art and Science of Living) pg, 63-90.

Authors: Andrew S. Harvey and Wendy Pentland Behdin Nowrouzi

Introduction (Pg 64).

“This chapter introduces a way of looking primarily at what people do in terms of activities and occupations. It suggests ways of conceptualizing them, ways of identifying and measuring them, and finally provides insight into what we have learned from previous studies of daily living”

The structure of daily occupation (pg 64).

Distinguish between tasks and activities. Harvey and Pentland argue tasks (See pg 280 for definition) are ways to perform activities required (See pg 275 for defintion) by occupations.

Occupations are composed of activities (behavioral units) and behavioral areas (activity groups).

Conceptualizing what people do (pg 65)

Four types of occupations as described by Aas (1980). 1. Necessary– those aimed at meeting our basic physiological and self maintance needs. 2. Contracted– those aimed in paid productivity or formal education. (Get paid for work.) 3. Committed– Occupations that are productive but unpaid (household chores) 4. Free– Occupations done during free time.

Occupational Roles (pg 67)

A role has been defined as a “culturally defined pattern of occupation that reflects particular routines and habits”.

Occupational roles influence our everyday behavior and are influenced by personal, cultural, societal and political forces.

The authors argue that occupational roles to a large extent define who we are by influencing what we do daily. Life Projects (pg 69)

May view occupations are life projects of different magnitudes such as going to the movies or attending medical school.

Meaning of Activities and Occupation (pg 69)

Another way of viewing occupations is seeing their significance to the people who engage in the occupations. Seven different broad groups of meaning (satisfaction of physiological needs, personal gratification, instrumental behavior, affect/solidarity, killing time, social meaning)

Factors influencing what people do (pg70)

Intrinsic (individual characteristics) and Extrinsic (environment) factors independently or interactively influence occupational behavior.

Dimensions of Occupational Behavior (pg 71)

Primary activity – the main activity the person is doing Secondary activity – anything done along with the a primary activity (i.e. watching a football match while talking to friends and drinking a beer.)

Dimensions of Occupational Behavior  Time  Location  With whom  For whom  Tension  Enjoyment or satisfaction  Technology

Contextual constraints influencing Occupational Behavior (pg73)

Three types of constraints to occupational performance  Capability constraints (biologically rooted)  Authority constraints (governed by law)  Coupling constraints (social influences)

How do you find out what people do? (pg 75)

Record and reflect on what we do and the environment in which our actions occur. Different methods of recording are by observation, stylized questioning, time use studies

NOTE: You should review the graphs in the chapter to get concrete examples of the material discussed in the chapter.