People travel for various reasons but for most, going on holiday is an innocent excuse to escape the stresses of daily life and relax in the sun. Sounds obvious, but is there a deeper meaning behind the psychology of travel?
The psychology of why we travel could in part be explained by Abraham Maslow’s ‘hierarchy of needs’. This theory suggests a motivational basis for travelling as a means of achieving our highest goals. Once we have satisfied our more basic needs of food, safety and self-esteem we are able to move onto the highest level known as self-actualisation (growth needs), where we are able to realise our full potential. This links into travel, whereby the process of going on holiday and seeing the world promotes growth and development of our skills and knowledge. This is a process of self-fulfilment – of being able to reach the goals we have set for ourselves (without the demands of lower level hierarchical needs). Since goals between individuals differ significantly, the reasons why people travel, aside from the norms of leisure seeking, also differ. This is why we don’t have the urge to travel so much at a young age, but rather develop this desire once we have moved up and completed the main stages of the hierarchy.
Did you know that between 4.5 and 5.5 million Brits live abroad? The pursuit of work as is often a big factor in this, meaning that for many people travel is a way to visit the family and friends they have left at home. This allows people to maintain their relationships, while also being able to work on their career and provide for their families. The main goal for this social group, it could be argued, is to provide a better life for themselves and their families, and travel is their means of achieving this.
Charity work is another reason why people travel; the opportunity to help others less fortunate. From building schools and homes, to volunteering at orphanages and language teaching, there is a subconscious altruism within the psychology of this kind of travel, plus the boon of acquiring new skills and ‘finding yourself’ on a journey of self-discovery. It provides a challenging and demanding experience, pushing individuals out of their comfort zone.
Another increasingly popular reason to travel is to tie the knot in paradise, or attend a wedding. With one in five UK couples now choosing to marry abroad, it’s a fast-growing trend, and understandably so; what better way to make your big day as memorable as possible than by taking advantage of the gorgeous views and wonderful weather of a tropical location?
In recent years social media use has boomed. With over two billion users worldwide, our lives are exposed to unprecedented levels of scrutiny. Whether meeting friends, celebrating a birthday or going on holiday, it all seems to end up online one way or another. It seems that our experiences have become more valuable than our possessions. And by broadcasting these experiences – especially travel ones – we could be inspiring others to emulate them. We’ve all felt the urge to jump on a plane after seeing super-cool poolside pics online. There’s a growing need to over-share, which the one million selfies taken globally everyday illustrates. From selfies in front of tourist attractions to selfies on the beach, a new way of snapping our travels has emerged. Did you know that Kim Kardashian took 1,200 selfies on her Thailand holiday in 2014? This urge to post our lives online may be an innocent desire to share holiday memories with our friends, or it could be designed to spark jealousy which in turn inspires us to jet off ourselves.
We’ve seen how self-actualisation, career opportunities, helping others, marriage and the pressures of social media can each become integral to the psychology of travel. Although many people share a passion for travelling, why we travel differs according to context. Our adventures allow us to see new places, make new friends and create unforgettable experiences along the way. There’s an emphasis on education too. And whether it’s in relation to learning about yourself or others, travel equates to exploration and discovery. In the words of Hilaire Belloc “We wander for distraction but we travel for fulfilment”.