Compulsive shoppers may have a new psychological excuse to blame for their wild shopping.
Compulsive
shoppers
may
have
a
new
psychological
excuse
to
blame
for
their
wild
shopping
.
Psychologists at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand are studying the "shop-till-you-drop" habit as a behavioral disorder similar to compulsive eating.
Psychologists
at
the
University
of
Canterbury
in
New
Zealand
are
studying
the
``
shop-till-you-drop
''
habit
as
a
behavioral
disorder
similar
to
compulsive
eating
.
Compulsive shoppers frequently buy more than they can afford or more than they need, and it causes them distress.
Compulsive
shoppers
frequently
buy
more
than
they
can
afford
or
more
than
they
need
,
and
it
causes
them
distress
.
"It becomes a problem when you are out of control," psychology lecturer Neville Blampied said.
``
It
becomes
a
problem
when
you
are
out
of
control
,
''
psychology
lecturer
Neville
Blampied
said
.
"When you are feeling bad and blue, what do you do?
``
When
you
are
feeling
bad
and
blue
,
what
do
you
do
?
Some people eat chocolate cake and ice cream.
Some
people
eat
chocolate
cake
and
ice
cream
.
Some people take the credit card and go out to the shop."
Some
people
take
the
credit
card
and
go
out
to
the
shop
.
''
Bank managers understand the problem because they have to deal with people who have to be persuaded to stop using their cards drawing money.
Bank
managers
understand
the
problem
because
they
have
to
deal
with
people
who
have
to
be
persuaded
to
stop
using
their
cards
drawing
money
.
Compulsive shopping was first discovered in 1915, although it was then known as monomania.
Compulsive
shopping
was
first
discovered
in
1915
,
although
it
was
then
known
as
monomania
.
Few studies have been done on the problem.
Few
studies
have
been
done
on
the
problem
.
An advertisement in a Christchurch paper, calling for people to take part in an experimental treatment program designed by Mr. Wilson, attracted 10 replies.
An
advertisement
in
a
Christchurch
paper
,
calling
for
people
to
take
part
in
an
experimental
treatment
program
designed
by
Mr.
Wilson
,
attracted
10
replies
.
But the problem, said Mr. Wilson, is "clearly not rare".
But
the
problem
,
said
Mr.
Wilson
,
is
``
clearly
not
rare
''
.
He thinks that compulsive shopping should be treated with drugs.
He
thinks
that
compulsive
shopping
should
be
treated
with
drugs
.
"As psychologists we are interested in non-drug treatments for behavioral difficulties," Mr. Wilson said.
``
As
psychologists
we
are
interested
in
non-drug
treatments
for
behavioral
difficulties
,
''
Mr.
Wilson
said
.
Compulsive eaters or shoppers get a kick from their habit.
Compulsive
eaters
or
shoppers
get
a
kick
from
their
habit
.
"Both activities provide an immediate kind of kick and you feel a bit better," he said.
``
Both
activities
provide
an
immediate
kind
of
kick
and
you
feel
a
bit
better
,
''
he
said
.
"You have long-term problems, but human beings are extremely good at not seeing long-term problems and are very sensitive to short-term benefits," he said.
``
You
have
long-term
problems
,
but
human
beings
are
extremely
good
at
not
seeing
long-term
problems
and
are
very
sensitive
to
short-term
benefits
,
''
he
said
.
The aim of the treatment was to help people find better ways of managing their emotions.
The
aim
of
the
treatment
was
to
help
people
find
better
ways
of
managing
their
emotions
.
The program, consisting of 10 one-hour weekly lessons and two follow-up treatments, is loosely based on teaching stress management.
The
program
,
consisting
of
10
one-hour
weekly
lessons
and
two
follow-up
treatments
,
is
loosely
based
on
teaching
stress
management
.
"You often have to start to get people to correctly recognize their emotions.
``
You
often
have
to
start
to
get
people
to
correctly
recognize
their
emotions
.
Not being able to know what you really feel weakens your ability to solve the problems connected with what's making you feel that way," Mr. Wilson said.
Not
being
able
to
know
what
you
really
feel
weakens
your
ability
to
solve
the
problems
connected
with
what
's
making
you
feel
that
way
,
''
Mr.
Wilson
said
.
Compulsive shoppers may have a new psychological excuse to blame for their wild shopping. Psychologists at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand are studying the "shop-till-you-drop" habit as a behavioral disorder similar to compulsive eating. Compulsive shoppers frequently buy more than they can afford or more than they need, and it causes them distress.  "It becomes a problem when you are out of control," psychology lecturer Neville Blampied said. "When you are feeling bad and blue, what do you do? Some people eat chocolate cake and ice cream. Some people take the credit card and go out to the shop." Bank managers understand the problem because they have to deal with people who have to be persuaded to stop using their cards drawing money.  Compulsive shopping was first discovered in 1915, although it was then known as monomania. Few studies have been done on the problem.  An advertisement in a Christchurch paper, calling for people to take part in an experimental treatment program designed by Mr. Wilson, attracted 10 replies. But the problem, said Mr. Wilson, is "clearly not rare". He thinks that compulsive shopping should be treated with drugs. "As psychologists we are interested in non-drug treatments for behavioral difficulties," Mr. Wilson said.  Compulsive eaters or shoppers get a kick from their habit. "Both activities provide an immediate kind of kick and you feel a bit better," he said. "You have long-term problems, but human beings are extremely good at not seeing long-term problems and are very sensitive to short-term benefits," he said.  The aim of the treatment was to help people find better ways of managing their emotions. The program, consisting of 10 one-hour weekly lessons and two follow-up treatments, is loosely based on teaching stress management.  "You often have to start to get people to correctly recognize their emotions. Not being able to know what you really feel weakens your ability to solve the problems connected with what's making you feel that way," Mr. Wilson said.