The Case for Compulsive Shopping as an Addiction

Abstract

Addictive drugs like cocaine, opiates and nicotine, through direct or indirect means, hyperstimulate the dopamine (DA) reward system. Some behaviors, for some people, can have similar effects on the same DA reward circuitry resulting in very similar addictive behavior patterns and consequences. Although the term “addictive” has been used loosely with many behaviors, it may be an appropriate term to describe compulsive shopping. Increased accessibility, hyperstimulating marketing techniques, a loss of the protective delay between impulse and purchase, and overvaluing of the shopping process and objects purchased may all contribute to the potentially addictive nature of shopping.

Keywords:

• addiction
• buying
• hyperstimulating
• impulse control
• shopping