Introvert Landscapes?

It’s strange, the things you stumble across when running ill-defined searches on the internet. There I was, looking for ways to improve my landscape photography, when an article pops up referencing a study which claims the introverts and extroverts prefer different types of landscape. Naturally, I had to tracked down the study.

 The article published in the Journal of Research in Personality is titled “Personality and geography: Introverts prefer mountains” (Shigehiro Oishi et al.) is based a series of studies they have done into the concept known as “person-environment fit”.

Intriguingly, they have found that the landscapes we choose to holiday in can reflect aspects of our personality. In particular that extroverts show a bias towards “flat, open spaces” e.g. open, gently rolling landscapes, plains and open beaches, whilst introverts show a bias towards more “enclosed landscapes” e.g. mountains and forests. They see this as being introverts preferring secluded places where interaction with others is limited — quiet places. While extroverts enjoy the open beach for example, because they are exposed to people, they are exposed to action and interaction, and they are on display to others, which suits their nature.

 What is equally intriguing they have found that the people who live in flat open spaces tend to be extrovert while those who live in forested and/or mountainous places tend to be introvert. Whether it is the landscape influencing and shaping the personality or just another aspect of the same subconscious choices not is still unclear.

 Do you regard yourself and an extrovert or an introvert and do these findings match with your own behaviour and choices? Let me know below.