Fort Hood and Texas Towers: A Link?
Dr. Stuart Brown, now a retired Psychiatrist, was asked by Governor John Connolly to investigate why the Texas Tower Sniper, Charles Whitman, killed 16 people and wounded 31 others.
Since that time, Dr. Brown became the Founder and President of the National Institute for Play and wrote the book, PLAY: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul. Both the National Institute for Play and his book are the result of his investigations into the Charles Whitman killings and Dr. Brown's research on Play.
This is what TED TALKS has to say about Dr. Brown's work:
"Dr. Stuart Brown came to research play through research on murderers -- unlikely as that seems -- after he found a stunning common thread in killers' stories: lack of play in childhood. Since then, he's interviewed thousands of people to catalog their relationships with play, noting a strong correlation between success and playful activity.
With the support of the National Geographic Society and Jane Goodall, he has observed animal play in the wild, where he first concieved of play as an evolved behavior important for the well being -- and survival -- of animals, especially those of higher intelligence. Now, through his organization, the National Institute for Play, he hopes to expand the study of human play into a vital science -- and help people everywhere enjoy and participate in play throughout life."
The National Institute for Play is dedicated to Play Science and knows that Play is not trivial but as vital to our well being as sleep. The National Institute for Play believes that as play is woven into the fabric of social practices, we will dramatically transform our personal health, our relationships, the education we provide our children and the capacity of our corporations to innovate.
The National Institute of Play sees play as an un-realized power that can transform our social and economic lives and help us transform ourselves to meet the stresses of a radically changing world.
Dr. Brown now travels extensively talking on the importance of Play.
For more information please contact Kristen@nifplay.org, 831 659-1740
http://www.nifplay.org/
www.nifplay.org
http://www.ted.com/
"the opposite of Play is not work. It is depression"
Brian Sutton Smith
