nd in some cases, become a dangerous fire hazard.
Considering the potential harm caused to the individual and society, what can we do to help curb the phenomenon and how can we better support sufferers?
Spotlight on hoarding
Hoarding refers to an excessive acquisition of objects and inability to part with apparently valueless possessions. It has been classified as a pathology in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and is known to manifest with other psychiatric conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia.
However, not all hoarding behaviour is pathological. As a field study conducted by Lin Sng Hock, a PhD student in Gerontology from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) shows that the factors underlying the condition are varied and complex.
Many hoarders attach ‘saving’ and ‘sentimental’ value to the items that they collect. The ‘saving’ value they attach refers to their belief that the items will one day come in useful, and hence it would be wasteful to discard them.
As for ‘sentimental’ value, items take on heavy emotional significance, making it difficult for hoarders to throw them away.
There is also evidence that ethno-cultural factors may predispose people to think and feel this way. In Chinese culture for example, the emphasis on thriftiness normalises the behaviour of holding on to items that were achieved through hardship. Additionally, socioeconomic factors also play a role. Childhood deprivation and emotional insecurity born out of difficult livelihoods can manifest in hoarding behaviours.
One of the study’s subjects, an elderly lady, regards stuffed toys – which are still wrapped in their original plastic bags – among her prized possessions. She notes that growing up in a poor family meant her mother could never afford to buy stuffed toys. Hence, the plush toys she collected has grown in emotional value.
Seniors are particularly susceptible to hoarding tendencies as ageing often causes support circles of friends and family to shrink, 