Wanderlust is a strong desire to wander or
travel and
explore
Exploration refers to the historical practice of discovering remote lands. It is studied by geographers and historians.
Two major eras of exploration occurred in human history: one of convergence, and one of divergence. The first, covering most ...
the world.
Etymology
The first documented use of the term in
English occurred in 1902 as a reflection of what was then seen as a characteristically German predilection for wandering that may be traced back to
German Romanticism and the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
system of
apprenticeship (the
journeyman), as well as the custom of adolescent wanderings in search of unity with nature.
The term originates from the German words ('to hike') and ('desire'), literally translated as 'enjoyment of hiking', although it is commonly described as 'enjoyment of
strolling, roaming about, or wandering'.
In recent years, the word is less commonly used in German, having been largely supplanted in the sense of 'desire to travel' by ('a longing for far-away places'), coined as an antonym to , 'homesickness'.
Sociology
Robert E. Park
Robert Ezra Park (February 14, 1864 – February 7, 1944) was an American urban sociologist who is considered to be one of the most influential figures in early U.S. sociology. Park was a pioneer in the field of sociology, changing it from a pas ...
in the early twentieth century saw wanderlust as in opposition to the values of status and organisation, while
postmodernism
Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or Rhetorical modes, mode of discourseNuyen, A.T., 1992. The Role of Rhetorical Devices in Postmodernist Discourse. Philosophy & Rhetoric, pp.183–194. characterized by philosophical skepticism, skepticis ...
would by contrast see it largely as playfully empowering.
In
post-Enlightenment Europe, upper-class bachelors were encouraged to embark upon a (roughly, 'cultural education journey'), often sightseeing trips to Italy or France.
Among tourists, sociologists distinguish sunlust from wanderlust as motivating forces – the former primarily seeking relaxation, the latter engagement with different cultural experiences.
Psychology
Wanderlust may reflect an intense urge for self-development by experiencing the unknown, confronting unforeseen challenges, getting to know unfamiliar cultures, ways of life and behaviours or may be driven by the desire to escape and leave behind depressive feelings of guilt, and has been linked to
bipolar disorder in the periodicity of the attacks.
In adolescence, dissatisfaction with the restrictions of home and locality may also fuel the desire to travel.
[S. Freud, ''On Metapsychology'' (PFL 11) p. 455]
See also
References
Further reading
*Rebecca Solnit, ''Wanderlust: A History of Walking'' (2009)
*Wolfgang Schivelbusch, ''The Railway Journey'' (1980)
*S. D. Ezrahi, ''Booking Passage'' (2000)
{{Adventure travel
Adventure travel
Diaspora studies
Expatriates
German words and phrases
Itinerant living