Inoculation at play

And yet, there is space for play on both sides of the analogic, too.

Josh Compton

https://speechandtheatremo.org/journal-archive/

Inoculation is often considered to be serious business – whether in its literal understanding as a medical treatment against future disease or in its analogic understanding as a way of conferring resistance to future attempts at influence. And yet, in both conceptualizations of inoculation, there is also room for play. This conceptual paper builds from scholarly analysis of play and of inoculation theory to consider 1) current findings of how inoculation theory interacts with features and applications of play, and 2) future areas for continuing study of inoculation theory and play. The paper broadens from specific elements of play to include larger generalities about play, including happiness and funniness, and some manifestations or forms of play, including competitive speech and debate and video games.

Compton, J. (2019). Inoculation at play: Happiness, funniness, types of play, and inoculation theory. STAM Journal, 49, 1-16.