COMPULSIVE BUYING DISORDER

Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) is excessive buying to a dysfunctional level and to have the urge to engage in buying behaviors, which lead to problems with the person’s social life and finances.

You have a compulsion to buy new goods and spend the money that you have, regardless of what you already own, what you actually need, what you can afford or what financial means you have.

This condition is similar to addictive disorders, like gambling or disordered eating.

History Of The Term

1892 German Physician Max Nordau and French psychiatrist Valentin Magnan coined the term oniomania

Magnan describes compulsive buying as a symptom of degeneration.

Nardau calls oniomania or “buying craze” a stigma of degeneration

“Compulsive Buying Disorder was first described clinically in the early 20th century”

There was little interest taken in CBD until the 1990s and even in the 21st century, compulsive shopping can be considered a barely recognized mental illness.

6.6%

In 2018, people of all genders worldwide compulsively shop

= 420, 000, 000

People worldwide having compulsive shopping disorder

85%

Of Compulsive buyers recognize they have a problem and are worried about their shopping habits and debt

COMPULSIVE VS. IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR

Compulsive Behavior

Acting on instinct

A serious mental health condition

Involves a constant and irresistible urge

Usually uncomfortable

Impulsive Behavior

Acting on instinct

Relatively normal

Can happen once in a while May be controlled

While similar sounding, these two behaviors differ in intent. Impulsive behavior is action without thought, compulsive behavior is premeditated.

“Most people realize how much of a problem this is, but are unable to change their situation, simply because it’s been apart of their mindset for so long.”

CBD attracted little attention throughout the 20th century except among consumer behaviorists and psychoanalysts.

Interest revived in the early 1990s, when clinical case series from three independent research groups appeared. The disorder was described worldwide with reports coming from the US, England, Germany, France and Brazil.

18 to 24 years

Age group when Compulsive Buying Behavior begin

Characteristics Of Compulsive Buying Disorder

Secretive about their shopping

Financial difficulties

Problems at work, school, or home because of uncontrolled shopping

Spending a great deal of time researching items on what to buy next

Difficulty resisting the purchase of unneeded items

Stress, loneliness, low self-esteem, and negative emotions