Compulsive Shopping Disorder Flashcards
CSB/CSD
• Loss of control over buying or shopping preoccupations, impulses or behavior resulting in impairment in social and/or
occupational functioning
Normal Consumer Behavior
- ends
- desire for object
Compulsive shopping behavior
- relieve tension
- alter mood
- improve self-esteem
- form of recreation or reward
- object itself often irrelevant
CSD Binge Cycle
- Craving/Anxiety
- Loss of control & indulge (shopping)
- Inability to avoid or refrain - Aftermath / Onset of Withdrawal
- Guilt, remorse, shame, embarrassment…anxiety - Seek relief from negative feelings
CSD Binge Cycle Characteristics
-Cravings = Urges to buy • ~ 1 hour -Episodic • ~ 2- 8 week -Loss of Control … -Intoxication or ‘High’ -Consequences = Purchases -Related to status enhancement •~ $100-200/ episode (2008 study) •Items often not even used -Withdrawal Syndrome • Short-lived relief from cravings • Negative aftermath
Aftermath & Precursors to next binge
- Negative Emotional State
- Stress
- Feelings of Need
- Positive Emotions or Elation
Incidence CSD
- Virtually every consumer society
- Incidence currently on the rise
- rising among young
- May increase as ‘materialism’ increases
- Onset: ~18 yrs (range: 6-30yrs)
- Affects: 2% - 16% population
Characteristics of Those with CSD
- 4x likely carry credit card balances
- Avg earnings males (Robert, 1998)
- Current research - females=males(Koran, 2006)
- Females: ~ 6%, Males: ~5.5%
Gender Differences
•Earlier research showed women > men – Based on clinical population – ~80% females seek treatment • Later research: – men less likely to admit to compulsive shopping behavior § – Incidence in women = men • But differences buying behaviors exist Males-agitated, angry, elated -Displays of affluence, possessions
Female Buying Behavior
-depressed or bored
-Adornment of self, family, home
• Clothes
• Jewelry
• Makeup
• Gifts / Clothes for others
• Home décor
Male Buying Behavior
-agitated, angry, elated
-Displays of affluence, possessions
‘G.A.S.’ – Gear Acquisition Syndrome
– Computers
– Entertainment equipment
– Tools
– Watches
– Cameras
– Sporting equipment
– Transportation
• motorcycles, cars, trucks, snowmobiles, jet-skis
Characteristics: Compulsive Shoppers
• Lack stable self-image – Higher rates depression – Higher levels anxiety – Lower self-esteem • Primary focus of CS – regulate emotion > other self-regulatory behavior • Transcendence failure • Negative self-appraisal increases
Toxicity
• Debt – Average $8,500 – ~ 50% household income goes to pay debts – More likely in younger consumers – More likely in households <$50K income • Disruption of daily life – Social & occupational functioning – Relationships – Can lead to criminal activities – Suicide
Preoccupation/urges part of cycle
–2 major triggers:
• Shopping-related stimuli (external)
• Emotion or affect (internal)
Strength
– Chronic
– Temporary
• Internal or external mediated
Monitoring
– Loss of self-awareness (de-individuation)
– Loss of control over attention (transcendence failure)
Standards
Lack of conflicting standards
Responses
Altering to conform to standards
Underregulation– Inadequate strength
• Chronic: internal • Temporary: physiological or psychological • Externally-mediated / prompted – overwhelming urges – exposure or availability
Acquiescence
-Unlimited access
• Purchasing requires series of acts
–Overwhelming power of impulse
Underregulation–Reduced monitoring behavior
• Renegade attention • Managing attention towards triggers – Preoccupied: as if hypnotized – During automatic stage: becomes ‘lost’ in process
Underregulation–Loss of control over attention
leads to transcendence failure
Misregulation-Lack of standards
• Irrational or Faulty Beliefs
– Fantasies
– False Reference Points
Misregulation– Conflicting standards
‘foolish to risk relationship… but
if (family member/partner) really loved me …’
