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Updated: Feb 12, 2026
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Assessing Burrowing, Nest Construction, and Hoarding in Mice
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My possessions need me: Anthropomorphism and hoarding
Alexandra M Burgess1, Lucy M Graves2, Randy O Frost2
1Worcester State University, Worcester, MA, USA.
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|April 3, 2018
Summary
Attributing human qualities to objects (anthropomorphism) is linked to hoarding disorder symptoms. Adult anthropomorphism and personal object attachment are key predictors, offering new insights into hoarding behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Hoarding disorder (HD) is a DSM-5 classification defined by difficulty discarding possessions, leading to clutter.
- Individuals with HD often form emotional attachments to objects, sometimes attributing human-like qualities (anthropomorphism).
- Previous research suggests a link between anthropomorphism and HD, potentially due to interpersonal attachment difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hoarding behaviors, beliefs, anthropomorphism, and loneliness.
- To examine if hoarding beliefs or loneliness moderate the link between anthropomorphism and hoarding symptoms.
- To introduce a novel measure of anthropomorphism focusing on personal ownership.
Main Methods:
- Assessed hoarding behaviors (discarding difficulty, acquisition, clutter), hoarding beliefs (ownership motivations), anthropomorphism (childhood, adulthood, personal objects), and loneliness.
- Employed regression analyses to identify predictors of hoarding behavior.
- Utilized moderation analyses to test the influence of beliefs and loneliness.
Main Results:
- All dimensions of anthropomorphism were significantly related to hoarding behaviors.
- Anthropomorphism in adulthood and towards personally owned objects were the strongest predictors of hoarding.
- Evidence for hoarding beliefs and loneliness moderating these associations was mixed.
Conclusions:
- Findings support and extend prior research on anthropomorphism and hoarding disorder.
- Adult anthropomorphism and personal object attachment are significant factors in hoarding.
- The study provides a validated measure for assessing anthropomorphism in the context of personal ownership.
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