COMPULSIVE BUYING TENDENCIES

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Compulsive buying behavior is often viewed as pathological.
• Emerging research suggests links to general financial attitudes and materialistic values.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between compulsive buying tendencies and financial behaviors, values, and wisdom.
• To determine if compulsive buying is inherently pathological or an extreme manifestation of common habits.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 240 community residents.
• Utilized the Compulsive Buying Scale, Material Values Scale, Canadian Problem Gambling Index, Executive Personal Finance Scale, and Ardelt's wisdom scale.

Main Results:

• Compulsive buying scores positively correlated with materialistic values and problem gambling scores.
• Compulsive buying scores negatively correlated with financial management skills and wisdom.

Conclusions:

• Compulsive buying tendencies may not be pathological but are associated with general attitudes toward money, financial management, and materialism.
• Findings suggest compulsive buying reflects an extreme form of common human habits and values.