Compulsive Shopping Disorder

Question 1

CSB/CSD

Answer 1

• Loss of control over buying or shopping preoccupations, impulses or behavior resulting in impairment in social and/or
occupational functioning

Question 2

Normal Consumer Behavior

Answer 2

• ends

- desire for object

Question 3

Compulsive shopping behavior

Answer 3

• relieve tension
• alter mood
• improve self-esteem
• form of recreation or reward
• object itself often irrelevant

Question 4

CSD Binge Cycle

Answer 4

1. Craving/Anxiety
2. Loss of control & indulge (shopping)
   - Inability to avoid or refrain
3. Aftermath / Onset of Withdrawal
   - Guilt, remorse, shame, embarrassment…anxiety
4. Seek relief from negative feelings

Question 5

CSD Binge Cycle Characteristics

Answer 5

-Cravings = Urges to buy
• ~ 1 hour
-Episodic
• ~ 2- 8 week
-Loss of Control …
-Intoxication or ‘High’
-Consequences = Purchases
-Related to status enhancement
•~ $100-200/ episode (2008 study)
•Items often not even used
-Withdrawal Syndrome
• Short-lived relief from cravings
• Negative aftermath

Question 6

Aftermath & Precursors to next binge

Answer 6

• Negative Emotional State
• Stress
• Feelings of Need
• Positive Emotions or Elation

Question 7

Incidence CSD

Answer 7

• Virtually every consumer society
• Incidence currently on the rise
• rising among young
• May increase as ‘materialism’ increases
• Onset: ~18 yrs (range: 6-30yrs)
• Affects: 2% - 16% population

Question 8

Characteristics of Those with CSD

Answer 8

• 4x likely carry credit card balances
• Avg earnings males (Robert, 1998)
• Current research - females=males(Koran, 2006)
• Females: ~ 6%, Males: ~5.5%

Question 9

Gender Differences

Answer 9

•Earlier research showed women > men
– Based on clinical population
– ~80% females seek treatment
• Later research:
– men less likely to admit to compulsive shopping
behavior §
– Incidence in women = men
• But differences buying behaviors exist 
Males-agitated, angry, elated
-Displays of
affluence, possessions

Question 10

Female Buying Behavior

Answer 10

-depressed or bored
-Adornment of self, family, home
• Clothes
• Jewelry
• Makeup
• Gifts / Clothes for others
• Home décor

Question 11

Male Buying Behavior

Answer 11

-agitated, angry, elated
-Displays of affluence, possessions
‘G.A.S.’ – Gear Acquisition Syndrome
– Computers
– Entertainment equipment
– Tools
– Watches
– Cameras
– Sporting equipment
– Transportation
• motorcycles, cars, trucks, snowmobiles, jet-skis

Question 12

Characteristics: Compulsive Shoppers

Answer 12

• Lack stable self-image
– Higher rates depression
– Higher levels anxiety
– Lower self-esteem
• Primary focus of CS
– regulate emotion > other self-regulatory behavior 
• Transcendence failure 
• Negative self-appraisal increases

Question 13

Toxicity

Answer 13

• Debt
– Average $8,500
– ~ 50% household income goes to pay debts
– More likely in younger consumers
– More likely in households <$50K income
• Disruption of daily life
– Social & occupational functioning
– Relationships
– Can lead to criminal activities
– Suicide

Question 14

Preoccupation/urges part of cycle

Answer 14

–2 major triggers:
• Shopping-related stimuli (external)
• Emotion or affect (internal)

Question 15

Strength

Answer 15

– Chronic
– Temporary
• Internal or external mediated

Question 16

Monitoring

Answer 16

– Loss of self-awareness (de-individuation)

– Loss of control over attention (transcendence failure)

Question 17

Standards

Answer 17

Lack of conflicting standards

Question 18

Responses

Answer 18

Altering to conform to standards

Question 19

Underregulation– Inadequate strength

Answer 19

• Chronic: internal
• Temporary: physiological or psychological
• Externally-mediated / prompted
– overwhelming urges
– exposure or availability

Question 20

Acquiescence

Answer 20

-Unlimited access
• Purchasing requires series of acts
–Overwhelming power of impulse

Question 21

Underregulation–Reduced monitoring behavior

Answer 21

• Renegade attention
• Managing attention towards triggers
– Preoccupied: as if hypnotized
– During automatic stage: becomes ‘lost’
in process

Question 22

Underregulation–Loss of control over attention

Answer 22

leads to transcendence failure

Question 23

Misregulation-Lack of standards

Answer 23

• Irrational or Faulty Beliefs
– Fantasies
– False Reference Points

Question 24

Misregulation– Conflicting standards

Answer 24

‘foolish to risk relationship… but

if (family member/partner) really loved me …’

Question 25

Misregulation–Standards shift based on craving level

Answer 25

During periods of …
• low craving = decreases positive attributes of shopping
• High craving = increases positive attributes

Question 26

Misregulation–Distorted Self-Knowledge

Answer 26

• Believe they’re ‘Expert shoppers’
• Low self-esteem
• Positive interactions with store staff

Question 27

Tolerance

Answer 27

frequently buy more than can afford

Question 28

Withdrawal

Answer 28

preoccupations, impulses or behaviors causes marked distress

Question 29

Larger amounts

Answer 29

frequent preoccupation or irresistible, intrusive or senseless impulses causes consumption of greater amounts

Question 30

Impaired control

Answer 30

frequent buying of unneeded items

Question 31

Time spent

Answer 31

shopping longer than intended, losing track of time spent shopping

Question 32

Neglect of activities

Answer 32

preoccupations, impulses or buying behaviors significantly interfere with social or occupational functioning

Question 33

Continued use despite problems

Answer 33

preoccupations, impulses or buying behaviors result in financial and/or personal problems

Question 34

Results

Answer 34

– marked distress
– time consuming
– significantly interferes with social or occupational
functioning
– financial problems
-And not occurring exclusively during
hypomanic or manic episodes