There must be some confusion, at least with too abstract concepts. Every evolutionary psychologist will tell you that "play" is how humans and animals learn - by imitating and "practising". It is related to social and especially matting "skills", or, a more correct world - "habits". Play is evolutionary way to develop useful habits. So-called "mirror neurons" meme explains social aspect of "play". If this society isn't extinguished yet, it means that observed phenomena is rather a product if imagination and wishful thinking.

But nowadays everything written without obscene words and spelling errors could be considered " scientific".