A psychologist explains why you buy things you don't need — and how to stop (2024)

FAQs

Why do we buy things we don't need psychology? ›

These reactive purchases have become known as the Diderot Effect. The Diderot Effect states that obtaining a new possession often creates a spiral of consumption which leads you to acquire more new things. As a result, we end up buying things that our previous selves never needed to feel happy or fulfilled.

Researchers at Melbourne University have advocated its classification as a psychological disorder called oniomania or compulsive shopping disorder.

Many human behaviors are rewarded with pleasurable feelings (caused by the chemical dopamine). Buying stuff can release those same pleasure chemicals, and for many of us, our natural addiction to feeling good can hence be easily satisfied by buying something.

Here are the TOP 7 main reasons (but there are many):

Gifts – we received them as a kindness from someone else. Memories – just looking at them transports us to a different time. Feeling – nothing gives us more comfort than that item. Practicality – it isn't broken, so I'm not changing it!

You'll become more appreciative

When you stop buying unnecessary stuff you will learn to become more appreciative for things that don't require money. Happiness doesn't revolve around material possessions. There are so many wonderful things in life that are free.

What Causes an Addiction to Shopping? According to Ruth Engs from Indiana University, some people develop shopping addictions because they essentially get addicted to how their brain feels while shopping. As they shop, their brain releases endorphins and dopamine, and over time, these feelings become addictive.

When people decide not to use something at one point in time, the item can start to feel more special. And as it feels more special, they want to protect it and are less likely to want to use it in the future.

What are the 3 basic reasons why people buy things? ›

When we're under stress, we react to shopping differently. Just as we may naturally crave sweets to lift our moods, and as we respond positively to other pleasures in life, people tend to feel stronger impulses to buy themselves treats for a mood boost when stressed.

There are four psychological factors that influence consumer behaviour: Motivation, perception, learning, and attitude or belief system. Motivation speaks to the internal needs of the consumer. Understanding how to motivate your customer is a powerful tool.

Guilt can play a big role in our resistance to decluttering. “We often feel guilty if we're getting rid of something from someone we love,” says Trager. “It's hard to remind ourselves that a person will still love us, and us them, even if we no longer own this item they gave us.”

Sometimes you struggle to declutter because having a lot of stuff makes you feel safe and secure. Decluttering and getting rid of stuff makes you worry you won't have enough when you need it. This scarcity mindset keeps you hanging on to things, even if you don't use or love them.

If you have low self-esteem, poor coping skills, were embarrassed by the hurt, and/or have a short temper you may be even more likely to hold a grudge. While we all may fall into holding an occasional grudge, some people may be more prone to hanging on to resentments or anger than other people.

But what would really happen if the majority of people stopped buying everything except the necessary food for some time? In short, economies would probably collapse, many people would lose jobs, and the ripple effect would continue in all industries and aspects of society as we know it.

“Stress and anxiety are the most significant underlying causes of shopping addiction,” adds Sehat. Many people turn to gratifying behaviors as coping mechanisms, she says. “The endorphins released make the individual feel happy and less stressed.”

Overspending and Compulsive Buying Disorder: overbearing need to buy things. Underspending and Compulsive Hoarding: problem with getting rid of things. Workaholism: feeling stressed when not working. Financial Dependence: being dependent on another person for money.

Is compulsive spending a mental illness? ›

Compulsive buying behavior (CBB), otherwise known as shopping addiction, pathological buying or compulsive buying disorder, is a mental health condition characterized by the persistent, excessive, impulsive, and uncontrollable purchase of products in spite of severe psychological, social, occupational, financial ...

To your brain, shopping is often a rewarding experience. It's an activity that can trigger mood-boosting endorphins. These endorphins can make depression feel less intense, but only for a short time. Like many rewarding habits, depression shopping may evolve into more than just a self-help strategy.

Impulse buying is when a customer buys something without thinking about it first.

Mayo Clinic. With this mind, we can reasonably define money dysmorphia as: Dissatisfaction associated with one or more perceived defects or flaws in our finances — a flaw that appears minor or can't be seen by others.

Answer. The word closest in meaning to what you want is spendthrift. Spendthrift is a noun that means "a person who spends money in a careless or wasteful way."

“Emotions like regret and guilt, which you experience with buyer's remorse, reflect the engagement of the avoidance motivational system. This system helps you deal with any negative things that might happen in your world (such as debt).

What are the two main reasons people will buy something? ›

Buyers are triggered mainly by seven underlying factors when purchasing a new product. Our motives include both necessity and convenience along with security, FOMO, identity and belonging, price, peer recommendations, obligation, fear, price, and happiness.

The key psychological factors to understand when considering consumer behavior are motivation, perception, attitudes and beliefs, along with lifestyle. Understanding these factors will assist any marketer in understanding the behavior of their consumers in order to successfully appeal to them.

What are the 4 types of customer buying behavior? There are four types of consumer behavior: habitual buying behavior, variety-seeking behavior, dissonance-reducing buying behavior, complex buying behavior.

We seek to recover from loss, loneliness, or heartache by purchasing unnecessary items. We seek fulfillment in material things. And we try to impress other people with the things that we own rather than the people that we are. But these pursuits will never fully satisfy our deficiencies.

In fact, researchers found that 62% of shoppers have purchased something to cheer themselves up (Psychology Today). Some call it “retail therapy” because shopping can make some of us feel a lot better (especially when we're feeling down or stressed out).

There are four psychological factors that influence consumer behaviour: Motivation, perception, learning, and attitude or belief system.

Buyer's remorse refers to negative emotions—such as regret, anxiety or guilt—that consumers may experience after buying an item. It's typically linked to large purchases—like a car or a new home. But some people may experience it after smaller purchases—like buying a new bag or set of golf clubs.

The consumers consider various things like the characteristics of the product, price charged, availability of the product at the required location and much more. The personal factors include age, occupation, lifestyle, social and economic status and the gender of the consumer.

What are the major factors that influence the make or buy decision? ›

The production cost and quality problems are the major triggers of a make-or-buy decision. Other factors are managerial decisions and a company's long-term business strategy that dictate the current operations pattern. Historical policy decisions may also compel a company to consider in-sourcing or outsourcing.

Most market researchers believe a person's family is one of the biggest determinants of buying behavior. Psychological factors: A person's ability to understand information, perception of needs, and mindset influence consumer's behavior.

Shopping Sprees

Find yourself covering up your spending? For some people who are depressed, it is not uncommon for compulsive buying -- in stores or on the Internet -- to serve as a distraction or self-esteem booster. But "retail therapy" is a short-lived high because it doesn't address underlying depression.

When we talk about psychological factors that influence consumer decisions, we are referring to the workings of the mind or psyche: motivation, learning and socialization, attitudes and beliefs.

Consumer psychology is a specialty area that studies how our thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and perceptions influence how we buy and relate to goods and services. Consumer psychologists investigate how the decision-making process, social persuasion, and motivation influence why shoppers buy some things but not others.

Consumer Psychology is the study of human behavior, regarding their buying patterns, customs and preferences, in relation to consumer products, including their reactions and preferences to advertising, packaging and marketing of those products.