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Related Concept Videos

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder01:28

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
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One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Using a Virtual Store As a Research Tool to Investigate Consumer In-store Behavior
09:17

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Published on: July 24, 2017

Heterogeneity within compulsive buyers: a Q-sort study.

Kate Thornhill1, Stephen Kellett, Jason Davies

  • 1Barnsley Primary Care NHS Trust, UK.

Psychology and Psychotherapy
|August 21, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Compulsive buying behavior is not uniform; two distinct subgroups emerged: those seeking positive reinforcement from shopping and those experiencing emotional distress. This highlights individual differences in excessive shopping patterns.

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Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Using a Virtual Store As a Research Tool to Investigate Consumer In-store Behavior
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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Compulsive buying (CB) is a complex behavior with potential heterogeneity among individuals.
  • Understanding the subjective experiences of compulsive buyers is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how individuals with compulsive buying behavior make sense of their excessive shopping.
  • To explore potential sources of heterogeneity within the population of compulsive buyers.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty female participants diagnosed with compulsive buying (CB) completed a Q-sort of their shopping experiences.
  • Psychometric scales including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale-Shopping Version (YBOCS-SV) were administered.
  • Participants provided demographic and financial information (occupation, income, debt).

Main Results:

  • Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed two distinct subgroups of compulsive buyers, explaining 44% of the variance.
  • The 'positive reinforcement' group (n=10) associated shopping with pleasure.
  • The 'emotional distress' group (n=6) reported greater financial debt and more severe CB, linked to financial, emotional, and interpersonal difficulties.

Conclusions:

  • Compulsive buyers exhibit heterogeneity in how they perceive and relate to their shopping behavior.
  • Clinical implications suggest tailored therapeutic approaches based on the identified subgroups.
  • Acknowledged methodological limitations and proposed future research directions.