The things that make us: self and object attachment in hoarding and compulsive buying-shopping disorder

Abstract

Excessive or maladaptive object attachment is the defining feature of Hoarding Disorder (HD) and the acquisition process within Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder (CBSD). In recent years, the relationship of object attachment within HD and CBSD to individual's self-concept has become the focus of direct research. On the basis of this literature, it seems that an underdeveloped, ambivalent, or discrepant self-concept could be a vulnerability for dysfunctional object attachment behavior. Further, the importance of objects in buttressing and extending self-concept, both individually and in relationship to others, appears to be a central function underlying pathological object attachment. An important future direction of research is whether directly addressing self-concept can serve as the next advancement for psychological treatments for these debilitating disorders.