Psychosocial development and basic need satisfaction of travellers and non-travellers: an empirical study

Abstract

The current study investigates psychosocial development and basic need satisfaction of travellers and non-travellers. One hundred and sixty-seven participants were recruited through the University of Regina Psychology Depailment Participation Pool and through online snowball sampling. Participants completed questionnaires measuring travel preference, identity and intimacy development, and basic need satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Different types of travellers (and non-travellers) were predicted to vary in identity and intimacy development as well as basic need satisfaction. Additionally, the Non-Traveller Typology Measure (NTTM) was developed and administered to explore topophilic and tropophilic traits of travellers associated with travel preferences. A cluster analysis of ITR scores grouped all participants (n = 167) into four distinct travel types. Differences between clusters were found on intimacy, autonomy, and relatedness, although no differences were found on identity and competence. There are psychosocial development and psychological need differences between certain tourist roles as anticipated. Implications of psychological needs as motivators for travel preferences are discussed.