How Clutter Accumulates – Psychological ‘Specialness Spirals’ Can Make Ordinary Items Feel Like Treasures
Jacqueline Rifkin, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Years ago, I bought a blouse at Target. That same day, I considered putting it on, but for no particular reason decided not to. That weekend, I again considered wearing the blouse, but the occasion didn’t seem good enough, so again, I passed. A week later, I considered the blouse for a date, but again, the event didn’t seem special enough.
Fast forward to today. I have never worn my Target blouse. What had started out as ordinary now holds a special place in my closet, and no occasion feels quite worthy of my wearing it.
What happened here? Why do people own so many unused possessions, treating them as though they are too special to use?
I’m an assistant professor of marketing, and these are the questions that inspired my latest res...