Compulsive buying : is shopping costing more than money?

Abstract

This research sought to explore compulsive shopping in Malta. Traditional ideas about addiction were critically considered, proposing that behavioural addictions should also be considered. This research sought to explore whether compulsive shopping could be considered as a behavioural addiction and whether it was able to regulate arousal or hedonic tone. Compulsive shopping, being a relatively new phenomenon in psychological research, leads to the suggestion that theories need to be developed requiring the grounded theory approach. 400 screeners were distributed to students attending the University of Malta, eight of whom were identified as compulsive buyers, after which individual in-depth interviews were conducted. The data analysis in this study suggests that compulsive buying satisfies criteria held for behavioural addictions so it too may be considered as such; it also involves components of the addictive cycle. It was found that a primary function of the behaviour was to regulate arousal. The author argues that compulsive buying is consistent with psychological knowledge on the addictive concept. Suggestions for support and implications for further research were identified.