News

The reality of retail therapy

September 4, 2012

Retail therapy could be the result of a mental disorder where people become addicted to shopping, according to an article in The Atlantic.

Although compulsive buying is not a clinically recognized addiction, surveys have found that the problematic behavior is more of a disorder, affecting between 5 percent and 15 percent of the population. Psychologists have even developed a test known as the Compulsive Buying Scale that ranks a concerned shopper on their feelings of shame or guilt after making purchases, according to the article.

Certain lifestyle choices are mentioned as mitigating factors in compulsive shopping. Shoppers who suffer mood disorders, smoke regularly and use marijuana are reportedly more likely to be at an increased risk for problem shopping, according to the article.

The article also cited anticipatory shopping as another component in emotionally charged buying, where shoppers make a purchase as a way to handle a stressful situation before the fact. One way to combat the shopping temptation is to acknowledge your vulnerabilities and preemptively shredding your credit cards before entering the mall.

Read more about consumer behavior.