Psychology Behind Hoarding: Why It Happens

January 29 2025 TalktoAngel 0 comments 473 Views

Hoarding is a psychological condition characterised by an excessive accumulation of items, often leading to cluttered living spaces and significant distress. While it may seem puzzling or frustrating from an outside perspective, hoarding is a complex disorder rooted in various psychological, emotional, and environmental factors. Understanding why hoarding happens is essential for better empathy and providing the right interventions for those affected. This blog will explore the psychological factors behind hoarding and why it happens.

What is Hoarding?

Hoarding disorder (HD) is a mental health condition where an individual has persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their value. This difficulty is usually accompanied by accumulating items that clutter living spaces and interfere with daily functioning. The condition is more than simply being a "pack rat" or someone who likes to keep things—it involves significant distress and impairment in life functioning.

The Psychological Factors Behind Hoarding

1. Emotional Attachment to Possessions

One of the key psychological reasons behind hoarding is the emotional attachment that individuals form with their possessions. Hoarders often associate their belongings with sentimental memories, feelings of security, or identity. Each item may represent a piece of their past, a relationship, or an emotional milestone. These emotional attachments make it challenging to discard items, as doing so feels like losing a part of themselves.

Research by Steketee and Frost (2007) found that people with hoarding tendencies often experience heightened emotional responses to the idea of discarding items. The fear of losing a piece of their history or a connection to a loved one can lead to overwhelming anxiety, which can prevent them from letting go.

2. Cognitive Distortions

Distorted thinking patterns often drive hoarding behaviour. Individuals with hoarding tendencies may have unrealistic beliefs about the importance or future value of items. For example, they may believe that the items they accumulate could one day be useful or that they might need them in the future. This thinking is known as "catastrophic thinking," where individuals anticipate negative consequences for discarding items.

According to the Cognitive Behavioral Model of Hoarding (Frost & Steketee, 2014), cognitive distortions contribute significantly to hoarding behaviour. Individuals may also suffer from indecision, fear of making the wrong choice, and perfectionism, which further complicates the process of discarding items.

3. Anxiety and Fear of Making Mistakes

Anxiety plays a crucial role in hoarding. People with hoarding disorder often fear that discarding an item could lead to regret, especially if they need it later. This fear is rooted in a deep-seated anxiety about making decisions and a reluctance to take risks. The anxiety of possibly needing an item in the future or the thought of having made a mistake can paralyze individuals, leading them to keep everything they own.

Many hoarders are also afraid that they will lose a part of themselves by discarding items. As a result, they may hold on to possessions to feel more in control of their environment, even if it becomes overwhelming.

4. Depression and Low Self-Esteem

Depression is commonly seen in individuals with hoarding disorder. People with depression may accumulate items as a coping mechanism for emotional pain. Hoarding provides a temporary sense of comfort and control during difficult times. However, over time, the clutter can exacerbate feelings of sadness, social isolation, and hopelessness.

Furthermore, hoarding behaviour is often linked to low self-esteem. Individuals may struggle with feelings of inadequacy and view their possessions as a source of identity and self-worth. As they struggle with personal issues or feelings of failure, hoarding may become a way of compensating for those negative emotions.

5. Trauma and Loss

A significant proportion of individuals with hoarding disorder have experienced trauma or loss, such as the death of a loved one or childhood neglect. These traumatic experiences can lead to the development of hoarding behaviours as a way to fill the emotional void or regain a sense of control over their environment. For example, someone who lost a parent may start hoarding as a way to keep memories alive or prevent further loss.

Research by Tolin et al. (2015) indicates that people who hoard often report having experienced emotional or physical trauma in their lives. The act of collecting items can be a way of coping with grief, loss, or other traumatic experiences.

Environmental and Genetic Factors

While psychological factors are central to hoarding, environmental and genetic factors also play a role.

1. Environmental Factors

The environment in which a person grows up can significantly influence the development of hoarding behaviours. Growing up in an environment where clutter was normalized or where there was a lack of resources (such as food or clothing) can contribute to the development of hoarding tendencies later in life. Additionally, individuals raised in environments where emotional support was lacking or where they experienced neglect may be more prone to developing hoarding behaviours.

2. Genetic Factors

There is evidence to suggest that hoarding disorder can run in families, indicating that genetics may play a role in its development. Family members of individuals with hoarding disorder are more likely to exhibit similar tendencies. Twin studies have shown that hoarding behaviour may be partially hereditary, though environmental and personal experiences also contribute significantly to the condition.

Treatment and Interventions for Hoarding

Hoarding is a treatable condition, though it can be challenging to address. The most effective treatment is a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and, in some cases, medication.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is the most widely recommended treatment for hoarding disorder. It focuses on helping individuals challenge their distorted thinking patterns and develop healthier behaviours around discarding possessions. Therapists work with clients to address emotional attachments, build decision-making skills, and gradually reduce anxiety around discarding items. The goal is to help individuals make more functional decisions about what they truly need and how to regain control of their living spaces.

2. Medication

While CBT is the primary treatment, medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be prescribed to help manage underlying anxiety or depression associated with hoarding.

3. Support Groups

Support groups and family therapy can also be valuable in treating hoarding. These provide a space for individuals to share their experiences and receive emotional support from others who understand their struggles.

Conclusion

Hoarding is a complex psychological disorder rooted in emotional attachments, cognitive distortions, trauma, and anxiety. Understanding these factors fosters empathy and support. With the right treatment, individuals can regain control over their environment. TalktoAngel offers online counselling with the best psychologists in India, providing expert therapists to help individuals overcome hoarding through evidence-based approaches like CBT.

Contribution: Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Clinical Psychologist, life coach & mentor TalktoAngel & Ms. Tanu Sangwan, Counselling Psychologist.

References

Frost, R. O., & Steketee, G. (2014). Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring: A Therapist's Guide to Treatment. Springer Science & Business Media.
Steketee, G., & Frost, R. O. (2007). Compulsive Hoarding: Current Status of the Research. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(6), 597–611.
Tolin, D. F., Frost, R. O., & Steketee, G. (2015). Hoarding: A Community-Based Study of Prevalence and Diagnostic Characteristics. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 76(1), e206–e212.