Sample Of Compulsive Buyers example essay topic

Buyer Behavior 10/14/96 Compulsive Buying: A Phenomenological Exploration This Article gave an in-depth look at the physiological and social problems of the compulsive buyers behavior. It relates and explains very thoroughly how compulsive buyers actions can be compared to other excessive behaviors such as drug abuse, alcoholism, eating disorders, compulsive sexuality, kleptomania, or compulsive gambling. The article was reinforced by extensive research, surveys, and interviews on compulsive buyers. Compulsions are repetitive and seemingly purposeful behaviors that are performed according to certain rules or in a stereotype fashion. They are also explained as being excessive and ritualistic behaviors designed to alleviate tension, anxiety, or discomfort aroused by an obtrusive thought or obsession. Impulsive buyers have been known to experience negative consequences ranging from guilt to disappointment with the product to financial hardship.

Low self-esteem is also associated with compulsive behavior. It has been suggested that compulsive behaviors are an attempt to temporarily block or overcome these feelings. Past research has lead researchers to develop a model that assumes that physiological, genetic, psychological, social, and cultural factors all contribute to the development of compulsive behaviors and the present study seems to add to the existing research base. The research process began with the observation of group therapy sessions with approximately fifty compulsive buyers.

Therapists that were treating the disorder conducted several group and individual interviews and read more than a thousand letters from the compulsive buyers. The information gathered was then used to compare agains results of a mail survey given to other shoppers. In addition, five in-depth qualitative interviews with individual compulsive buyers were completed and transcribed. The sample of compulsive buyers was obtained from people who had written to the California-based self-help group for problem buyers. The quantitative part of this study involved a survey administered to self-identified problem buyers and to a more general sample of consumers. Although the sample used in this research was fairly large and decentralized, there were a couple of restrictions to be considered.

First, the desire for self help may make the this sample unrepresentative of compulsive buyers who do not seek help. Second, it is probable that the self-identified problem buyers will include some people who have spending or debt problems, but are not true compulsive buyers. The statistical analysis of the data and information obtained by the authors research is suitable for reinforcing the results given. The restrictions taken in to consideration are minimal and the sample was large enough, compared to the subject matter, that reasonable results can be expected. The findings in this study were as follows: The sample of compulsive buyers had a significantly higher mean score on the MMP I psychasthenia (obsessive-compulsive) subscale than did the general sample of consumers. This suggests the greater probability of the presence of related traits, behaviors, and personality dimensions, in relation to overall compulsive.

Compulsive buyers also had lower self-esteem scores than those in the comparison strata, and there was a significantly higher fantasy-imaginative level among the compulsive buyers than with the general population. The end result of this study showed a difference between compulsive and impulsive buyers when it came to the motivational factors of purchasing or possessing The results showed that compulsive buyers do not have any greater desire than others to own things. Rather, differences in materialism seem to be predominantly due to differing levels of envy and non-generosity. This article was very informative and full of information regarding some of the excessive behaviors of consumers.

The authors did an excellent job relaying not only their results and findings of the study, but also how the information was gathered and assessed. The knowledge gained from this article could be very helpful to someone, possibly even myself, who might posses compulsive behaviors. The only suggestions I might have for a future study on the topic of compulsive buyers would be an assessment of which type of products seem to be the largest target of compulsive buyers.