Psychology of collecting

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A selection of various silver coins, a common example of collectable objects. Various types of American silver coinage, 15 February 2020.jpg
A selection of various silver coins, a common example of collectable objects.

The psychology of collecting is an area of study that seeks to understand the motivating factors explaining why people devote time, money, and energy making and maintaining collections. There exist a variety of theories for why collecting behavior occurs, including consumerism, materialism, neurobiology and psychoanalytic theory. The psychology of collecting also offers insight into variance between similar behavior that can be recognised on a continuum between being beneficial as a hobby and also capable of being a mental disorder. [1] The large diversity of different types of collected objects and variance of collecting behaviors across these types has also been subject to research in psychology, marketing and game design. [2] [3]

Contents

Collecting is known to be a common behavior, with one estimate suggests that 40% of United States households engage in some form of collecting behavior, [4] with another source suggesting a global estimate closer to 30% assuming low variance between countries. [5]

Motivations for collecting

Collections such as this one of locks showcase the diversity of what people collect. Mossman Lock Collection (95257p).jpg
Collections such as this one of locks showcase the diversity of what people collect.
Philately, the collecting of postage stamps, is a popular worldwide form of collecting. Indonesian Postage Stamp Albums.jpg
Philately, the collecting of postage stamps, is a popular worldwide form of collecting.

Although collections often include physical objects, marketing research theorises that collection may be in pursuit of something less tangible such as an experience, idea or feeling. [4] This forms a foundation for applying theories of consumerism and materialism, which posits some intrinsic value separate from monetary value such as luxury, passion, spirituality, solidarity or nostalgia that motivates consumer behavior. [4] [6] The social environment in which collecting occurs may also lead to competition over acquiring objects, and cooperation in the form of sharing knowledge about objects, which according to the theory motivates researching, cataloging, displaying and admiring collections. [4] Motives are not mutually exclusive, and different motives may combine or intersect for different collectors. [7] Since these motivations are not restricted to a particular stage of life, collecting is sometimes considered a lifelong pursuit which can never be fully completed. [8]

Virtual forms of collecting are diverse, and can vary from collectible objects like equipment, characters, vehicles or mounts, to less material possessions such as skins or achievements, or currencies and objects valued primarily for rarity, memorability, or market value. These virtual collections may have effects on game mechanics, or be acquired to reflect the personality of players through appearance. [2]

The scope of collecting behavior in academia is difficult to define due to its large scope and many functions. It can include physical and virtual objects, along with intangible objects such as collecting jokes or proverbs. [4] This difficulty is illustrated by the following quote:

At some point in the process the objects have to be deliberately viewed by their owner or potential owner as a collection, and this implies intentional selection, acquisition and disposal. It also means that some kind of specific value is set upon the group by its possessor, and with the recognition of value comes the giving of a part of self-identity. But collecting is too complex and too human an activity to be dealt with summarily by way of definitions. [9]

— Susan M. Pearce, University of Leicester

Comparison to hoarding

Collecting as a hobby can become hoarding or compulsive hoarding, differing in that covering a large amount of living area with possessions leads to significant distress or impairment. [10] Compulsive hoarding, also known as hoarding disorder, is a diagnosable mental disorder in the DSM-5 and is closely related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. [1] Collecting, hoarding and compulsive hoarding are considered to lie on a continuum of the same underlying behaviors, [1] and assessment of these behaviors generally falls into two general categories of obsessive-compulsive behavior with hoarding subscales, and hoarding measures independent of obsessive-compulsive behavior. [10]

The crossover from collecting as a hobby, to hoarding as maladaptive behavior, has also been expressed in anecdotes. Bryan Petrulis, a former outfielder at St. Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota, and autograph collector, stated "It gets addictive, [...] just like gambling, drugs or sex. It's like putting a coin in a slot machine. It might not pay off this time, so you put another quarter in and keep doing it until you are tapped out or finally hit the jackpot." [11]

Neurobiology

Neurobiological theories have suggested that collecting behaviors can in some cases be explained by brain damage or abnormalities. [12] This research posits levels of collecting behavior result from abnormalities in the medial prefrontal cortex, which also serves to explain the poor outcomes of psychosocial interventions. [12] [lower-alpha 1] The prefrontal cortex is a region of the brain responsible for regulating cognitive behaviors such as decision making, information processing, and organizing behavior. Evidence also exists to support this hypothesis for damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. [13] There are also cases where other brain damage distributed throughout the right and left hemispheres was believed to cause hoarding behavior. [14]

Psychoanalytic theory

Up until the 1990s, Freudian and psychoanalytic theories were historically used to describe why people collect. [15] Early theories began in the early- and mid-1900s based on both theories of psychosexual development and drive theory. Freud suggested the idea that collecting stems from toilet training behavior. [16] In the late 1990s, the popularity of relational models theories, such as self psychology led to the application of these theories to describe collecting as well, which pose the idea that collecting establishes a better sense of self. The psychoanalytic perspective generally identified five main motivations for collecting: for selfish purposes; for selfless purposes; as preservation, restoration, history, and a sense of continuity; as financial investment and as a form of addiction. Addictive collecting was termed hoarding and reflected a "dark side" of collecting behavior. [15]

Notes

  1. ↑ Abstract says "mesial prefrontal cortex"; assumed typo in publication

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder</span> Personality disorder involving orderliness

Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a cluster C personality disorder marked by a spectrum of obsessions with rules, lists, schedules, and order, among other things. Symptoms are usually present by the time a person reaches adulthood, and are visible in a variety of situations. The cause of OCPD is thought to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors, namely problems with attachment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoarding disorder</span> Behavioral pattern

Hoarding disorder (HD) or Plyushkin's disorder, is a mental disorder characterised by persistent difficulty in parting with possessions and engaging in excessive acquisition of items that are not needed or for which no space is available. This results in severely cluttered living spaces, distress, and impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Excessive acquisition is characterized by repetitive urges or behaviours related to amassing or buying property. Difficulty discarding possessions is characterized by a perceived need to save items and distress associated with discarding them. Accumulation of possessions results in living spaces becoming cluttered to the point that their use or safety is compromised. It is recognised by the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kleptomania</span> Inability to resist the urge to steal

Kleptomania is the inability to resist the urge to steal items, usually for reasons other than personal use or financial gain. First described in 1816, kleptomania is classified in psychiatry as an impulse control disorder. Some of the main characteristics of the disorder suggest that kleptomania could be an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder, but also share similarities with addictive and mood disorders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoarding</span> Intentional accumulation of items for later use

Hoarding is the act of engaging in excessive acquisition of items that are not needed or for which no space is available.

In psychoanalysis, egosyntonic refers to the behaviors, values, and feelings that are in harmony with or acceptable to the needs and goals of the ego, or consistent with one's ideal self-image. Egodystonic is the opposite, referring to thoughts and behaviors that are conflicting or dissonant with the needs and goals of the ego, or further, in conflict with a person's ideal self-image.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prefrontal cortex</span> Part of the brain responsible for personality, decision-making, and social behavior

In mammalian brain anatomy, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) covers the front part of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. It is the association cortex in the frontal lobe. The PFC contains the Brodmann areas BA8, BA9, BA10, BA11, BA12, BA13, BA14, BA24, BA25, BA32, BA44, BA45, BA46, and BA47.

Pathological lying, also known as pseudologia fantastica, is a chronic behavior characterized by the habitual or compulsive tendency to lie. It involves a pervasive pattern of intentionally making false statements with the aim to deceive others, sometimes for no clear or apparent reason, and even if the truth would be beneficial to the liar. People who engage in pathological lying often claim to be unaware of the motivations for their lies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orbitofrontal cortex</span> Region of the prefrontal cortex of the brain

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a prefrontal cortex region in the frontal lobes of the brain which is involved in the cognitive process of decision-making. In non-human primates it consists of the association cortex areas Brodmann area 11, 12 and 13; in humans it consists of Brodmann area 10, 11 and 47.

The Iowa gambling task (IGT) is a psychological task thought to simulate real-life decision making. It was introduced by Antoine Bechara, Antonio Damasio, Hanna Damasio and Steven Anderson, then researchers at the University of Iowa. It has been brought to popular attention by Antonio Damasio in his best-selling book Descartes' Error.

Perseveration, in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and speech–language pathology, is the repetition of a particular response regardless of the absence or cessation of a stimulus. It is usually caused by a brain injury or other organic disorder. Symptoms include "lacking ability to transition or switch ideas appropriately with the social context, as evidenced by the repetition of words or gestures after they have ceased to be socially relevant or appropriate", or the "act or task of doing so", and are not better described as stereotypy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebrity worship syndrome</span> Disorder involving obsession with celebrities

Celebrity worship syndrome (CWS) or celebrity obsession disorder (COD) is an obsessive addictive disorder in which a person becomes overly involved with the details of a celebrity's personal and professional life. Psychologists have indicated that though many people obsess over film, television, sport and pop stars, the only common factor between them is that they are all figures in the public eye. Written observations of celebrity worship date back to the 19th century.

Frontostriatal circuits are neural pathways that connect frontal lobe regions with the striatum and mediate motor, cognitive, and behavioural functions within the brain. They receive inputs from dopaminergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic, and cholinergic cell groups that modulate information processing. Frontostriatal circuits are part of the executive functions. Executive functions include the following: selection and perception of important information, manipulation of information in working memory, planning and organization, behavioral control, adaptation to changes, and decision making. These circuits are involved in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease as well as neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and in neurodevelopmental disorder such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ventromedial prefrontal cortex</span> Body part

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is a part of the prefrontal cortex in the mammalian brain. The ventral medial prefrontal is located in the frontal lobe at the bottom of the cerebral hemispheres and is implicated in the processing of risk and fear, as it is critical in the regulation of amygdala activity in humans. It also plays a role in the inhibition of emotional responses, and in the process of decision-making and self-control. It is also involved in the cognitive evaluation of morality.

Compulsive buying disorder (CBD) is characterized by an obsession with shopping and buying behavior that causes adverse consequences. It "is experienced as a recurring, compelling and irresistible–uncontrollable urge, in acquiring goods that lack practical utility and very low cost resulting in excessive, expensive and time-consuming retail activity [that is] typically prompted by negative affectivity" and results in "gross social, personal and/or financial difficulties". Most people with CBD meet the criteria for a personality disorder. Compulsive buying can also be found among people with Parkinson's disease or frontotemporal dementia.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to abnormal psychology:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impulsivity</span> Tendency to act on a whim without considering consequences

In psychology, impulsivity is a tendency to act on a whim, displaying behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection, or consideration of the consequences. Impulsive actions are typically "poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unduly risky, or inappropriate to the situation that often result in undesirable consequences," which imperil long-term goals and strategies for success. Impulsivity can be classified as a multifactorial construct. A functional variety of impulsivity has also been suggested, which involves action without much forethought in appropriate situations that can and does result in desirable consequences. "When such actions have positive outcomes, they tend not to be seen as signs of impulsivity, but as indicators of boldness, quickness, spontaneity, courageousness, or unconventionality." Thus, the construct of impulsivity includes at least two independent components: first, acting without an appropriate amount of deliberation, which may or may not be functional; and second, choosing short-term gains over long-term ones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obsessive–compulsive disorder</span> Mental and behavioral disorder

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental and behavioral disorder in which an individual has intrusive thoughts and feels the need to perform certain routines (compulsions) repeatedly to relieve the distress caused by the obsession, to the extent where it impairs general function.

The biology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) refers to biologically based theories about the mechanism of OCD. Cognitive models generally fall into the category of executive dysfunction or modulatory control. Neuroanatomically, functional and structural neuroimaging studies implicate the prefrontal cortex (PFC), basal ganglia (BG), insula, and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Genetic and neurochemical studies implicate glutamate and monoamine neurotransmitters, especially serotonin and dopamine.

Aboulomania is a mental disorder in which the patient displays pathological indecisiveness. The term was created in 1883 by the neurologist William Alexander Hammond, who defined it as: ‘a form of insanity characterised by an inertness, torpor, or paralysis of the will’. It is typically associated with anxiety, stress, depression, and mental anguish, severely affecting one's ability to function socially. In extreme cases, difficulties arising from the disorder can lead to suicide. Although many people are indecisive at times, it is rarely to the extent of obsession.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Abramowitz</span> American clinical psychologist

Jonathan Stuart Abramowitz is an American clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). He is an expert on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders whose work is highly cited. He maintains a research lab and currently serves as the Director of the UNC-CH Clinical Psychology PhD Program. Abramowitz approaches the understanding and treatment of psychological problems from a cognitive-behavioral perspective.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Nordsletten, Ashley E.; Mataix-Cols, David (April 2012). "Hoarding versus collecting: Where does pathology diverge from play?". Clinical Psychology Review. 32 (3): 165–176. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.12.003. PMID   22322013.
  2. 1 2 Toups, Zachary O.; Crenshaw, Nicole K.; Wehbe, Rina R.; Tondello, Gustavo F.; Nacke, Lennart E. (2016-10-15). "The Collecting Itself Feels Good". Proceedings of the 2016 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play. Austin, Texas: ACM. pp. 276–290. doi: 10.1145/2967934.2968088 . ISBN   978-1-4503-4456-2. S2CID   3167498.
  3. ↑ Allahdini, Arash; Chitsaz, Shahrzad; Saeedi, Hamid (2017-07-28). "A Consideration on Factors of Collecting Buying Behavior". International Journal of Marketing Studies. 9 (4): 111. doi: 10.5539/ijms.v9n4p111 . ISSN   1918-7203.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Ijams Spaid, Brian (2018-11-13). "Exploring consumer collecting behavior: a conceptual model and research agenda". Journal of Consumer Marketing. 35 (6): 653–662. doi:10.1108/jcm-05-2017-2224. ISSN   0736-3761. S2CID   239792246.
  5. ↑ W., Belk, Russell (2001). Collecting in a consumer society. Routledge. ISBN   0-415-25848-0. OCLC   46909826.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Rykwert, Joseph (December 2001). "Why Collect?". History Today. 51 (12).
  7. ↑ Mueller, Shirley M. (2019). Inside the Head of a Collector: Neuropsychological Forces at Play. Lucia|Marquand. ISBN   978-0-9996522-7-5.[ page needed ]
  8. ↑ McKinley, Mark B. (1 January 2007). "The psychology of collecting". The National Psychologist. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Interpreting objects and collections". The Urge to Collect. Susan M. Pearce. London: Routledge. 1994. pp. 157–159. ISBN   978-0-203-42827-6. OCLC   191031504.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. 1 2 Frost, Randy O.; Hristova, Veselina (May 2011). "Assessment of hoarding". Journal of Clinical Psychology. 67 (5): 456–466. doi:10.1002/jclp.20790. PMID   21351103.
  11. ↑ McCallum, Jack (14 November 2005). "Will You Please Sign This?". Sports Illustrated Vault.
  12. 1 2 Anderson, Steven W.; Damasio, Hanna; Damasio, Antonio R. (2005-01-01). "A neural basis for collecting behaviour in humans". Brain. 128 (1): 201–212. doi: 10.1093/brain/awh329 . ISSN   0006-8950. PMID   15548551.
  13. ↑ Barrash, Joseph; Asp, Erik; Markon, Kristian; Manzel, Kenneth; Anderson, Steven W.; Tranel, Daniel (October 2011). "Dimensions of personality disturbance after focal brain damage: Investigation with the Iowa Scales of Personality Change". Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. 33 (8): 833–852. doi:10.1080/13803395.2011.561300. ISSN   1380-3395. PMC   3140575 . PMID   21500116.
  14. ↑ Steketee, Gail; Frost, Randy O.; Kyrios, Michael (1 August 2003). "Cognitive Aspects of Compulsive Hoarding". Cognitive Therapy and Research. 27 (4): 463–479. doi:10.1023/A:1025428631552. S2CID   22786820.
  15. 1 2 Formanek, Ruth (1994). "Interpreting objects and collections". Why they collect: Collectors reveal their motivations. Routledge. pp. 339–347.
  16. ↑ McKinley, Mark (2005). "The psychology of collecting" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010.

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