Monday, April 21, 2014

I am not a hoarder!




Some of you may have see the show from TLC titled "Hoarding: Buried Alive" which documents people collecting so many items that their house becomes uninhabitable from the amount of clutter. These hoarders collect everything from complete junk to brand new items.

It is amazing to see people's lives come to ruin from material possessions. Whether it is eviction, condemning of a home, or the distancing of family and friends, these hoarders will go to the absolute breaking point for this addiction. Some people will have absolute breakdowns when their prized collection of garbage bags and empty soup cans are thrown away.


How on earth do people get so attached to such junk? Some of it may have to do with the extended self principle. Many people start hoarding after a traumatic life event. Gathering these possessions gives them a feeling of comfort and belonging that becomes part of their persona.

This just shows how the potential of power associated with the extended self. Even going home during Easter, I was amazing by the "junk" that was in my room. Yet I couldn't bring myself to throw it away! I do not consider myself a hoarder, but I was amazed how attached I am to some items that I forgot even existed.

Who knew the extended self would get in the way of spring cleaning...

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