Alone in the Tien Shan mountains, Kyrgyzstan
I have come across these two dimensions in Myers-Briggs tests and other profiling tools when recruiting and being recruited, and wondered how we might apply this to the world of travel. On the face of it, our instinct might guide us to say that the extraverts of the world are more likely to choose to travel, to enjoy the adventure and to make the most of the experience. But I’m not convinced of this. Let’s have a look at the definitions of the two traits:
According to the Webster dictionary (via Wikipedia), extraversion is “the act, state, or habit of being predominantly concerned with and obtaining gratification from what is outside the self”. Extraverts tend to enjoy human interactions and to be enthusiastic, talkative, assertive, and gregarious. Introversion on the other hand is “the state of or tendency toward being wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in one’s own mental life”. Introverts tend to be more reserved and less outspoken in large groups, often taking pleasure in solitary activities such as reading, writing, drawing, and using computers.
Seems pretty clear doesn’t it? Gregarious, enjoying human interactions, stimulated by the world around them on one hand, and reserved, solitary and concerned with the world within on the other. Surely the extraverts have it?
I should declare my bias here. On every profile I’ve completed I’ve come out as an introvert. But personal traits aside, I would still suggest that the life of travel is often best suited to an introvert. Here are just a few arguments to support this.
Firstly, life on the road involves plenty of quiet time, as a solo traveller of course but even as half of a couple. In the long hours on a plane or a bus or those sleepless eternities caused by jetlag, we are alone and inevitably drift into our own worlds; a comfortable place for the introvert, less so for their talkative counterparts.
Secondly, when interacting with people from other cultures there is often an apprehension on the part of our hosts not to offend or be offended. An introvert will typically say less, hold back for longer, but will be more careful to avoid causing offence, even if this is primarily to preserve their own internal contentment of which they are preoccupied.
And lastly, while it may appear that an extravert may be more attuned to soaking up their new surroundings, it might be the introvert who is able to quietly admire and observe the beauty of the landscapes, the people and the culture at a deeper level. Their preference to be silent and to watch and listen rather than to dive in and engage with anyone and everyone may allow them to absorb the sights, sounds and smells that surround them on a different level.
I don’t know if there is a clear answer to this question; I suspect not. We are of course made up of many traits, and our tendency to draw our energy from within or without is only one such dimension. But I would argue that, strange as it may seem on the face of it, a preference to be in one’s own company can be a benefit in travelling and experiencing the world around us.
I completely agree with you on this…Being an introvert even I have realized the same…and if you’re an introvert you would truly enjoy solo trips instead of getting those lonely blues.
Nice read…Loved the topic BTW
Great post!
I’m definitely fall into the introverted traveller category so I can relate to a lot of what you’ve said here.
However I’m not so sure there is a personality type that is more suited to travel. I think that each person looks to get something different out of a trip and that can’t really be qualified as better or worse than another person desires. It’s just different and unique.
Having an understanding of your personality type and what form of travel is going to be best suited for you though is important. For example an Introvert on a pub crawling contiki tour may not work so well!
Travelling is such a broad concept and there are so many different ways in which to experience that there is sure to be a type of travel that will suit you, regardless of personality type!
My husband (an introvert) and I (an extrovert) discuss this topic a lot and I definitely agree that introverts are great travelers. They are more introspective and take more time to process what is around them. Traveling as a “mixed” couple is actually a lot of fun because we’ll both come away from a day or set of experiences with different observations and takeaways and we discuss this over dinner or breakfast. I notice that this also comes out when we write about different places – I’ll tend to focus on the people we met and the general story while Dan has a great memory for the little details that make the place come alive.
Interestic topic…
And I agree with Adam, I think it completely depends on the type of travelling.
I spent 6 months living with some fellow extraverts whilst volunteering in Cambodia. I had a wonderful time- we non-stop talked about our experiences each night, made friends with loads of Cambodians, always finding new and interesting things to do in the city (including sampling the lively nightlife!), and sharing our experiences together was absolutely fantastic. It was a busy, lively, loud and very fun 6 months.
After my stint volunteering with them, I set about to visit Vietnam for a month before coming home. The change was dramatic- I felt lonely, isolated and frustrated. In fact, i disliked it so much (not the country, but the feeling of being a lone traveller), that I came back to Cambodia and spent the last few weeks there instead!
Thanks for the excellent discussion. Travel is, as Adam points out, such a broad concept that there is room for all characters to enjoy and experience its richness. And each of us sees a place (and even a person) through our own eyes and in the context of our own experiences, so travel is never the same thing for two people.
Glad to hear there are so many travel introverts out there. We should have a party. Oh wait..
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
I, too, am a mixed couple and completely agree that I get more out of my travels than my husband does. He is an extrovert who can talk to anyone about anything, where I am more inclined to “take it all in”. I particularly agree with your assessment that an introvert is less likely to speak up and offend people of other cultures. Being able to digest what you are seeing without making an immediate comment or critique is a skill lost on many.
Dave and I both fall into the extrovert category. We love talking and meeting people. I disagree that an extravert will cause offense in another culture. Just because a person is extraverted doesn’t mean that they don’t care about other peoples feelings. We have made amazing friends during our travels (both fellow travelers and local people that we meet along the way) and are very attentive to listening and learning from them. It is actually being an extravert that has helped us to make lifelong friends and new connections. It really doesn’t matter if you are an introvert or extravert, if you get what you want out of your travels, that is all that counts.
Always great thoughts and discussions as usual Andy:-)
An interesting discussion as always Andy. I agree with you. I think introverts might make better travelers. Another reason for this is that I think introverts are more inclined to travel in the first place. Extroverts are the type of people who are so at home with their surroundings that they feel uncomfortable outside them or just do not even consider the possibility of stepping outside them. This of course is a gross generalization, but generalizations are fun to discuss.
As usual, an engaging question!
I agree with your points perhaps because I’m an introvert myself. I particularly relate to the not wanting to offend point. And the down times of travel (waiting for a flight, long flights, etc) probably are easiest for I’s.
At the same time I think when I’m at a travel destination more E comes out, maybe from natural excitement but definitely to absorb more during the precious time I have there & soak up as much as possible, while still maintaining the inner reflection. Maybe the best of both worlds.
I wholeheartedly agree with you on this. I have taken the Myers-bBiggs countless times through, as well as other tests, and am always right in the middle, but with a stronger pull towards the introverted side. I am 100% consistent with the other 3, NFP…I also prefer to travel solo, as most of my travels has shown, but will always make connections with the people that I come across. But I agree that there are lots of down times, and that is where being an introvert can save you from insanity. As an I, I am not afraid of the voices in my head (not literally of course, don’t worry), I embrace them and look at the down times as a way to recollect and reassess everything that is going on inside. I’ve spoken to a few extroverts who cannot handle this extremely trying part of traveling. I love my E’s tho, they bring a true zest to life!
I’ve always been a loner myself, so that probably does make it much easier to be happy travelling all alone. I actually can’t stand mindless conversation and much prefer sitting in silence, so this article totally makes sense to me.
I enjoyed the discussion! I think a ‘good ear’ is really important when making new friends and meeting people from different cultures. Whether you’re introvert or extrovert, If you’re a good listener and genuinely interested in what is around you, then you will be appreciated by everyone you meet.
Proud introvert here.
Great post.
In the context of travel, both the introverts and extroverts can actively participate according to their own mind set, nature and instincts, mood and the places and destinations they would like to visit as well. Their will be a great change and differentiation of travel places in both of them and both will take enough pleasure and enjoy a lot according to their liking and willing of things for sure.
The travel has got many dimensions and anybody can easily accomplish and fulfill their travel desires and get relief to their itchy feet as well.
I always come out an ‘extrovert’ on those tests, but I find myself to be an introvert while travelling and that’s one of the things I love about travel. Introverted extrovert? Extroverted introvert? Who knows.
Anny – I can relate best to your response. At home, my friends and family would say I’m very extroverted, however, when visiting another country, I much rather prefer to “take the back seat” and observe my surroundings. I find that I get much more value out of listening to other people and their experiences, rather than opening up about myself and my life back home.
Katy
Glad to read how both introverts and extoverts can equally enjoy their travels. I liked the line from Guurrbi which I think sums up so much of this interesting debate: “If you’re a good listener and genuinely interested in what is around you, then you will be appreciated by everyone you meet.”
Who can argue with that?
I think I am an introvert, I completely agree on this.. I feel comfortable, and not very lonely, during solo trips.. able to admire the beauty of the place better.. And somehow, I am able to talk to strangers and locals a lot while traveling. Not sure why, but I think somehow being an introvert, I am able to adapt better and sometimes adjust better (and therefore be able to interact more) compared to extrovert counterparts.
both make excellent travelers but it’s better for extros to travel with extros and intros to travel with intros. Otherwise, the extros will drive the intros mad and vice versa!
oh, me and hubby are both extroverts btw, incase there was any doubt in anyone’s mind
Enjoyed reading this post and in some ways, kind of comforted me. I’m an introvert for sure in big groups or meeting new people but however an extrovert with my closest buddies.. I’m leaving in September for my RTW trip, I’m hoping after reading this post, I will be ok as a solo introvert! I think this trip will help me being confident in talking to strangers etc.
Thanks to Abhi, Ciki and Lianne for your great comments. As you say Ciki, sometimes it’s less important who we are but more important how well we get on with our travel companions. Just as well, as we’re all so different
I feel more extraverted when I travel as well. On tests the questions on travelling I tend to answer more extravertedly, like visiting conspicuous places (or ‘hot spots’). Of course needless to say I’m an introvert. Abhi’s post reminds me that’s actually the case for me too, on a trip I naturally easily talk to people, about little things or even about big things that would take much more effort in an everyday or home situation. I guess for both types it’s about the feeling of freedom gained on a travel.
Thanks DJ. On reflection I agree that it can feel much easier to chat to strangers in Laos than in London. Hard to pin down a reason; I guess it’s just a frame of mind we adopt when we travel. Perhaps stepping out of our home cultures can do us all some good from time to time – for some it represents a challenge, for others a freedom. Interesting debate…
Agreed. I am INTJ and my best friend is also. We travel well together. We both are relatively quiet in person, though we enjoy a good laugh, and love to sit back and observe OR talking to people we meet, but on a 1 on 1 basis with depth. We don’t really do clubs, alcohol or travel with those large travel group things. I think extraverts can make for good travelers if they stay sober and travel with other extraverts who may enjoy the same activities.
It’s best to travel with people you enjoy being around and have similar dispositions to, unless you want a real headache.
Good point Trudy – you’ve made me consider how I travel with my wife and I guess we do well as a pair of introverts. We can be quiet for long periods without discomfort and prefer to sit back and watch rather than get involved.
I’m sure they use these profiling tools to create the car-crash dynamics that always exist in reality shows.
I am brazilian, and Im studying Tourism in the university. I´m gonna make the final work about these things you guys are talking about. I consider myself an introverted girl, just like Andy wrote, more listening than talking, paying attention in every detail, when I get to a place I don´t really wanna talk to people from there, but I would love to listen them talking!!
I really like this discuss,because people think you cannot enjoy your travel sitting alone in the middle of a garden in another city readding a book, or drinking a hot cafe in front of some awsome touristic place,while you pay attention in every move,every style of the people passing by and realize how different they are,their culture, the way they talk or dress..
Anyways, its good to know that there are more people like me around the world,and im not that different =)