Also known as omniomania, shopping addiction has some of the same characteristics as a substance addiction.
Researchers from the University of Bergen have developed a new method to measure shopping addiction, The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale. Researchers found that shopping addiction predominately occurs in women, occurs in late adolescence, and can be related to personality traits. For example, if you're more anxious, self-conscious, an extrovert, you are more likely to be a shopping addict.
What are the seven warning signs of shopping addiction?
- You think about shopping/buying things all the time.
- You shop so much that it impairs your well-being.
- You shop to change your mood.
- Shopping affects your daily obligations.
- You feel like you have to shop/buy more to obtain the same satisfaction as before.
- You decide to shop/buy less but you haven't been able to.
- You feel bad if for some reason you're prevented from shopping/buying things.
Listen in as Cecilie Schou Andreassen, PsyD, PhD, shares the seven warning signs of a shopping addiction.
Cecilie Schou Andreassen, PsyD, PhD, is a researcher and clinical psychologist specialist with a strong research interest in chemical and non-chemical addictions, such as excessive and compulsive shopping, working, online social networking, tanning, and exercising, as well as work and organizational psychology. She has been published in journals such as Psychology and Health, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Frontiers, and PLoS One. Andreassen has been evaluated as competent for a full professorship in work and organizational psychology, and another in clinical psychology.