How international experiences can reshape the way you think
There are obvious perks to traveling abroad:
new friendships, unforgettable experiences, and stories you’ll tell for years.
But living in another country may offer something far less visible — and potentially far more powerful. According to a growing body of research, international experiences can actually make you more creative.
Writers and thinkers have long sensed this connection. Ernest Hemingway drew inspiration from his time in Spain and France. Aldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World, moved from England to the United States in midlife to pursue screenwriting. And back in 1869, after sailing across the Mediterranean, Mark Twain famously wrote in The Innocents Abroad that travel is “fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
In recent years, psychologists and neuroscientists have begun examining what many people have long suspected: stepping outside your familiar environment can spark real mental transformation.
Creativity is closely linked to neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to rewire itself. Neural pathways are shaped by environment and habit, which means they’re responsive to change. New sounds, unfamiliar languages, different scents, tastes, textures, and sights stimulate new synaptic connections. When the brain encounters novelty, it quite literally begins to think differently.
Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School who has conducted extensive research on the link between international experience and creativity, argues that foreign exposure increases cognitive flexibility — the ability to shift between ideas and see connections across seemingly unrelated concepts. Cognitive flexibility is a core component of creative thinking.
However, simply being abroad isn’t enough. What truly matters, Galinsky explains, is immersion and adaptation. Someone who lives overseas but remains detached from the local culture is unlikely to gain the same creative benefits as someone who actively engages with their surroundings. A week in Cancun for spring break probably won’t transform your imagination. Living there and building relationships with local fishermen just might.
In a study published in the Academy of Management Journal, Galinsky and his colleagues analyzed the careers of creative directors from 270 major fashion houses over an 11-year period. Their findings revealed a clear pattern: brands led by directors who had lived and worked abroad produced more innovative collections than those whose leaders had not.
Interestingly, the relationship wasn’t linear. Executives who had lived in multiple countries tended to show higher creativity — but only up to a point. Those who moved too frequently may not have immersed themselves deeply enough in any one culture. Depth of learning, rather than sheer number of countries visited, appeared to be the critical factor.
Cultural distance also plays a role. Somewhat surprisingly, living in a culture dramatically different from one’s own was not always associated with greater creativity. Researchers speculate that extreme cultural differences can feel intimidating, which may discourage full engagement. When people withdraw instead of adapt, the creative benefits diminish.
Travel may also strengthen a person’s sense of identity. Marie-Helen Immordino-Yang, an associate professor of education and psychology at the University of Southern California, suggests that cross-cultural experiences help individuals refine their values and beliefs. Engaging with people from different backgrounds pushes us beyond our social comfort zones, encouraging a deeper understanding of both others and ourselves.
Exposure to other cultures can also increase what researchers call “generalized trust” — a broader sense of faith in humanity. When we interact with people from different backgrounds, we often discover shared values and common ground. That realization builds confidence and openness — both essential ingredients for creative thought.
In fact, a 2012 study from Tel Aviv University found that individuals who believed racial categories reflected fixed, essential differences performed significantly worse on creative tasks than those who viewed such distinctions as flexible and socially constructed. In other words, rigid thinking about people tends to translate into rigid thinking overall. Those who put others in boxes often struggle to think outside the box themselves.
Of course, international travel isn’t the only path to cognitive growth. Cultural engagement doesn’t always require a plane ticket. If flying abroad isn’t an option, consider exploring a new neighborhood, trying unfamiliar cuisine, or connecting with people from different backgrounds in your own city. Sometimes, all it takes to spark creativity is stepping into a new cultural landscape — even briefly.
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