Summertime is vacation time. Nancy Silcox, a leader in the British Association of Psychological Type, wrote the following article on vacations and personality type. (Remember when you read it that the Brits say holiday instead of vacation. ) With her permission, I am reprinting it here.
Types of Holidays by Nancy Silcox
The kinds of vacations different types prefer:
E - Active
I - Relaxing
S - Experience
N - Explore
T - Educate
F - Group
J - Package
P - Adventure
On our family holidays, we would drive around a new country each year and visit museums & famous sites, but initially as a strong ‘J’, I found it extremely stressful that we didn’t have each day planned and accommodation booked. Later I discovered that our younger son always yearned for a holiday where we stayed in one place. Now I understand that his strong preference for Introversion was constantly challenged. What kind of holiday you choose or enjoy often reflects your preferences. See if you identify with the types of holidays that follow:
E – Extraverts might like to travel every day on holiday and with lots of friends or family. Their engagement with the outer world would perhaps lead them to touch the Mediterranean Sea or climb the Acropolis in Athens. They prefer active holidays that involve doing something new or different, so they might choose a bus tour with the world to view out the window, punctuated by stops for cream tea, a museum tour or a steam train ride. They often take lots of photos to share with everyone when they get back home, and love reminiscing about their adventures.
I – The ideal holiday for the Introvert is peaceful & restful—they would far rather lie in the sun and relax with a book or just daydream. They might holiday on their own quite happily or with a close friend. They often prefer one-centre holidays, staying in only one hotel and perhaps not even venturing out of the hotel surrounds. Those who prefer Introversion often become experts in their field and even enjoy their work on holiday: the artist who visits an art gallery, or the archaeologist who goes on a dig on their vacation. A bird watching or plane-spotting holiday might suit the Introvert well, being generally solitary pursuits.
S – Sensing types might be interested in holidays where you can see, hear, touch & experience, like wine-tasting in the Hunter Valley in Australia, climbing the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building for the view and be able to quote the statistics of height & history. They often enjoy educational holidays visiting a different country each year, touring the Golden Hind, visiting Museums like the Pergamom, Checkpoint Charlie or Auswitz. On the other hand they might return to the same place every year, especially SJs, enjoying the familiarity and repeating the things that they enjoyed before.
N – iNtuitives love to explore and dream of those ‘far away places with strange-sounding names’. They may make a list of adventures and places to visit in their lifetime, such as the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, Cruise the Nile, go caving or helicopter over Mount Etna, Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef and ride the Orient Express. One-centre holidays and lying in the sun are not for those who enjoy intuition! A haunted castle with a murder mystery dinner evening might appeal, and the Tate Modern Art Gallery over the Louvre.
T – Thinking types take holidays because they are supposed to, and go where they should—e.g. they might combine a visit to distant family with educational exploration related to or that will benefit their career, life or family; so perhaps attending an MBTI qualifying workshop or International APT Conference would classify as or combine with a holiday. Touring capitols to increase knowledge or visiting a nuclear reactor or dam with hydroelectric generators might appeal to them, or if a Christian, perhaps a tour of Israel.
F – A package holiday with a group or holiday with friends might appeal to those who prefer Feeling. They might enjoy swimming with dolphins, petting the big cats, or plan a visit to ground zero in New York or a tour of Buchenwald World War II Prison Camp. They might be drawn to work on a commune in Israel, pamper themselves with mudpack & aromatherapy massage on a health farm or even visit a spiritualist community or nudist camp.
J- Judging types holidays are planned, budgeted, scheduled, and they would prefer to know where they would be every day--it’s Wednesday so this must be Rome! They would have their accommodation booked and tour tickets purchased before they depart. Package tours might appeal to them, as they can relax knowing that everything is organized and will run smoothly.
P –The perfect holiday for Perceiving individuals would often be full of action, fun, or adventurous activities such as bungee jumping (have you ever done this?), rock or mountain climbing, white water rafting in the Rockies, dog sledding in Alaska or mystery tours anywhere. They might enjoy Disneyland even if they are not and do not have children, and they are more likely to book with last-minute.com
If you can afford it, a cruise suits all preferences: You can relax in one place, yet you’re always moving with plenty to see and do (I/E); there is mystery, intrigue and romance, as well as history, geography & archaeology (N/S); there is a schedule of events, yet lots to do whenever you feel like it (J/P); always people to mix with and the perfect way to keep the whole family entertained (F/T)!
In addition please check out my article "Why Your Family's Dream Vacation May Not Be Fun for You" by clicking here.
I also invite you to post a comment below about your favorite vacation or worst nightmare.
Happy Vacations! Janet Penley
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