Chapter 1 What is Occupation Virginia Dickie Copyright

“Mr. Jourdain. You mean to say that when I say, ‘Nicole, fetch me my

Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, you will be able to: 1. Identify and

Knowing and Learning about Occupation • Many occupations are ordinary – Part daily living;

Knowing and Learning about Occupation (Continued) • Occupation is a biological imperative – evident

The Need to Understand Occupation • OTs base their work on understanding of occupation

Defining Occupation • Defining occupation in OT is challenging – part of common language

Context and Occupation • Specific meaning of an occupation is known only to the

Context and Occupation (Continued) • Person, occupation, and context are inseparable – But, contexts

Is Occupation Always Good? • In OT, occupation is associated with health and wellbeing

Organizing Occupation • Categorization of occupations is often problematic – e. g. : distinction

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“Mr. Jourdain. You mean to say that when I say, ‘Nicole, fetch me my slippers’ or ‘Give me my nightcap’ that’s prose? Philosopher. Certainly, sir. Mr. Jourdain. Well, my goodness! Here I’ve been talking prose forty years and never known it. . ” —Moliere (1670) Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, you will be able to: 1. Identify and evaluate ways of knowing occupation. 2. Articulate different ways of defining and classifying occupation. 3. Describe the relationship between occupation and context. Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Knowing and Learning about Occupation • Many occupations are ordinary – Part daily living; and – are taken for granted • Occupations can be special when they – happen infrequently; or – carry important symbolic meaning Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Knowing and Learning about Occupation (Continued) • Occupation is a biological imperative – evident in human evolutionary history – current behaviors of primate relatives – survival needs are met through occupation • Humans also have occupational needs beyond survival Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

The Need to Understand Occupation • OTs base their work on understanding of occupation and its role in health • OTs can know occupation by: – Looking inward – examining its form, function, and meaning – Looking outward – with observation through an “occupational lens” • Turn to research and scholarship to understand occupation Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Defining Occupation • Defining occupation in OT is challenging – part of common language with meanings that the profession cannot control • OT founders used the word occupation to describe a way of “properly” using time • Definitions of occupation from OT literature help in explaining why occupation is the profession’s focus Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Context and Occupation • Specific meaning of an occupation is known only to the individual engaged in the occupation • Occupations take place in context, including: – time; – physical space; – past experiences; and – social and cultural contexts Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Context and Occupation (Continued) • Person, occupation, and context are inseparable – But, contexts may be changeable • OT interventions cannot be context free Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Is Occupation Always Good? • In OT, occupation is associated with health and wellbeing (as a means and end) • Occupation can also be unhealthy, dangerous, maladaptive, or destructive to self or others – Can contribute to societal problems and environmental degradation • OTs must also acknowledge the breadth of occupational choices – Are effects on individuals and the world itself adaptive or maladaptive? Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Organizing Occupation • Categorization of occupations is often problematic – e. g. : distinction between work and leisure is not always clear • Individuals may experience the same occupation in very different ways • The construct of occupation might defy efforts to define and categorize Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins