A theory of substitutability of leisure behavior

Abstract This article presents a theory that addresses the determinants of an individual's willingness and tendency to substitute leisure behaviors. The theory views substitution as a psychological process and is built on the basic principle that the originally intended activity is no longer possible and must therefore be replaced by another activity if leisure involvement is to be initiated or continued. Two major postulates and resultant derivations and auxiliary corollaries are offered. The determinants addressed by these derivations emanate from two sources: (1) the individual's perception or analysis of why the need for substitution arose and why he or she must substitute; and (2) the individual's perception or analysis of the psychological qualities of the leisure activity to be replaced and those of the available alternative activities. The theory posits that perceived choice (or freedom) is the critical mediator of whether certain factors undermine or enhance one's willingness to substitute. Throughout the development of the theory, evidence is considered from research in experimental social‐psychology and leisure studies. It is shown that the derivations and corollaries encompass empirical evidence from these areas and provide a theoretical basis for the relationships among the psychological variables in leisure substitutability.