Hoarding: A multifactorial understanding

Abstract

The syndrome of hoarding has remained largely unaddressed by psychoanalysts. This is because grotesque forms of it do not appear at the clinician's door and the public focus on such gross pathology draws attention away from the subtler forms of hoarding in our patients. This paper delineates a thorough phenomenological profile of the hoarding disorder, distinguishing it from collecting and from obsessive-compulsive disorder with which it is frequently confused. It traces the phylogenetic basis of hoarding to animal survival techniques, the sociogenetic basis of the producers' induction of false needs in consumers, and ontogenetic basis to object-hunger consequent upon childhood loss. The paper recommends a largehearted differential therapeutics to help individuals suffering from this syndrome.

Food sovereignty and sustainability mid-pandemic: how Michigan’s experience of Covid-19 highlights chasms in the food system

“…Food hoarding has been used to explain and label the behavior of food acquisition in anticipation of illness and isolation related to the pandemic. Food hoarders were shamed in social media as being selfish however, hoarding is also a medical diagnosis indicating indiscriminate acquisition of goods and things to the point of self-endangerment (Shaeffer 2017 ; Akhtar 2019 ). Food hoarding associated with an impending crisis does not imply a psychological problem but may be fueled by past experiences of food scarcity, anxiety related to circumstances out of personal control, and the driving need to protect a family unit (Helton et al 2017 ).…”

“…In this pandemic there appeared to be a direct relationship between feeling safe and possessing an abundance of food. Hoarding in general, and food hoarding specifically, provides hope and security (Akhtar 2019 ). This optimism and confidence in being able to withstand the unknown provided a feeling of stability and helped mitigate the feeling of anxiety of the unknown (Arslan et al 2021 ).…”

“…This optimism and confidence in being able to withstand the unknown provided a feeling of stability and helped mitigate the feeling of anxiety of the unknown (Arslan et al 2021 ). There is also a sense of pleasure or accomplishment after successfully locating an item that is in short supply (Akhtar 2019 ). Social media was buzzing with tips on where to find hand sanitizer, toilet paper, eggs, rice, and flour.…”