Psychology of Travel

Why Travel?
There are various reasons why an individual wants to travel
escape relax/relief of tension family togetherness/interpersonal relations maintain social contacts wanderlust scenery

Motive
An internal factor that arouses, directs and integrates a persons behavior ~ Murray (1964)

Can not be observed but must be inferred

Motivation
A force within an individual which causes them to do something to fulfill a biological need or psychological desire

Motivating Factors
PUSH FACTORS: influencing why the person wants to go (person-specific motivations)
why go on holiday? Why choose a particular type of holiday

PULL FACTORS: the attraction to a holiday choice (destination-specific attributes)

these determine which destination is chosen

Forces Influencing the Individual

Internal
Attitudes Values Perception Learning Personality Motives

PUSH FACTORS

Forces Influencing the Individual

External
Social and family roles Social class Environmental conditions Surrounding cultures Reference groups

PULL FACTORS

Tourists Learning Process

Commercial Information Social Previous Vacation Purchase Same Vacation Similar Vacation

Inclination

Motives

Criteria

Alternatives

Combined

 Needs within the individual that motivate the desire to travel, e.g:
Maslows hierarchy of needs:
Physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem, self-actualisatoin

Motivation by purpose:
Physical motivators; cultural motivators; interpersonal motivators; status & prestige motivators

MASLOWS NEEDS HIERARCHY THEORY

Maslows message was simply this: people always have needs, and when one need is relatively fulfilled, others emerge in a predictable sequence to take its place.
(Preponent need is most motivating)

MASLOWS NEEDS HIERARCHY THEORY

(continued)

Highest level
Self-actualization

needs (being everything one is capable of becoming) Esteem needs (Self-respect; self-confidence) Love needs (Social acceptance and affection) Safety needs (Protection from the elements) Physiological needs (Life-sustaining needs)

Lowest level (Forms a pyramid of needs)

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Theory

Source: Data for diagram drawn from A. H. Maslow, A Theory of Human Motivation, Psychological Review, 50 (July 1943): 370-396.

MASLOWS NEEDS HIERARCHY THEORY

(continued)

For Discussion: Which level of needs primarily drives you at this point in your life? Explain.

MOTIVATION BY PURPOSE
People are motivated to do something because of the four major motivators:
PHYSICAL MOTIVATORS CULTURAL MOTIVATORS INTERPERSONAL MOTIVATORS STATUS & PRESTIGE MOTIVATORS

MOTIVATION BY PURPOSE
PHYSICAL MOTIVATORS
Related to
physical rest sports participation beach recreation relaxing entertainment

Directly connected to health

MOTIVATION BY PURPOSE
CULTURAL MOTIVATORS
From the word culture
religion music art folklore

more for enrichment of knowledge of the other

countries

MOTIVATION BY PURPOSE
INTERPERSONAL MOTIVATORS
Meeting other people Visitin friends or relatives

Escape from routines

MOTIVATION BY PURPOSE
STATUS & PRESTIGE MOTIVATORS
Concerns
ego needs personal development

Trips related to
business conventions study pursuit of hobbies and education

MOTIVATION BY PURPOSE
Motivation by purpose, e.g. Wickens (1994) in Chalkidiki peninsular, Greece:
Cultural heritage tourists Ravers Shirley Valentines Heliolatrous Lord Byrons

 Motivation as influenced by pressures and forces from an individuals social and cultural environment, e.g.
work: opposition/compensation theory & the extension model social influences: family, reference groups, social class, culture modern society: the perception that vacations are essential wellbeing - to escape the hectic pace of life: are we motivated more to escape than discover..?..

Stereotypes: Destn & Tourist

Negative, inaccurate oversimplifications lumping people into categories Fosters discrimination or defamation Tourist trap Tourist nicknames

Optimal Arousal Theory

Tourism is guided primarily by intrinsic motives and the need to escape stress, excessive stimulation, and the mundane Through travel, the tourist seeks the stimulation or the peace and tranquility they may not have at home or work

Theme park
Museum Art gallery Shopping complex Golf course

excitement; risk & adventure; escapism; status (best white knuckle ride)
learn something new; nostalgia; status if internationally famous aesthetic pleasure; relaxation; pursue a special interest in art; status if see world famous paintings

escapism; search for a bargain; status if bought designer label product

exercise; make new friends; status if it is a prestigious course (source: Swarbrooke & Horner, 1999: 61)

 The generalised typologies of motivation theory try to encompass complex & diverse motivations. It may be more useful to:
measure motivation related to specific tourism offerings/potential offerings & destinations; look at the choice criteria governing decisions, rather than underlying motivations (which people might not know or be prepared to admit!)
(Seaton, 1996: 72)

Barriers to Travel (constraints)

Cost Time Health Family Stage Lack of Interest Fear and Security

ANY QUESTIONS?

THANKS