IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

Types Of Compulsive Shoppers

Compulsive shopaholics

Trophy shopaholics

Status shopaholics

The Four Phases Of Compulsive Buying

who shop under emotional distress who obsessively shop for the perfect item who shop to maintain the image of a big spender with flashy items

Bargain seekers who purchase items on sale even if they don’t need them

Bulimic shoppers

Collectors who are caught in a vicious cycle of buying and returning who don’t feel complete unless they are in possession of certain sets of handpicked items

WHAT DO PEOPLE OFTEN BUY ?

PHASE 4 SPENDING

PHASE 1 ANTICIPATION

PHASE 3 SHOPPING

PHASE 2

PREPARATION

HOW OFTEN DO PEOPLE PURCHASE ITEMS THEY DON’T NEED OR DIDN’T PLAN TO BUY?

HOW OFTEN PEOPLE GO SHOPPING TO IMPROVE THEIR MOODS? 11%

Anticipation

Person with CBD develops thoughts, urges, or preoccupations with either having a specific item or with the act of shopping.

Preparation

Person prepares for shopping and spending.

This includes decisions on when and where to go, on how to dress and even which credit cards to use. Considerable research may have taken place about sale items, new fashions or new shops.

Shopping

The actual shopping experience which many individuals with CBD describe as intensively exciting. Person gets a “high” from the shopping experience.

Spending

The act is complete with a purchase often followed by a sense of let down or disappointment with oneself.

In a study of antecedents and consequences of CBD, Miltenberger reported negative emotions. (Depression, Anxiety, Boredom, Self-critical thoughts, anger) were mostly cited antecedents of CBD, while euphoria or relief from the negative emotions were the most common consequence.