The role of attachment style and anthropomorphism in predicting hoarding behaviours in a non-clinical sample

Abstract

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Parental bonding and hoarding in obsessive–compulsive disorder

“…Interestingly, a previous study found that, among individuals with OCD, women had significantly higher levels of interpersonal attachment insecurity [40], and another study of a non-clinical sample found that women had significantly higher scores on hoarding severity, attachment difficulties, and anthropomorphism [44]. There also is other evidence that the etiology of hoarding may be different in women and men.…”

Unpacking the construct of emotional attachment to objects and its association with hoarding symptoms

“…Defined as "perceiving humanlike characteristics in either real or imagined nonhuman agents" (Epley, Waytz, Akalis, & Cacioppo, 2008, p. 144), anthropomorphism is a common phenomenon that many people experience to varying degrees. To date, a few studies have reported significant positive associations between anthropomorphism and hoarding symptoms (Neave, Jackson, Saxton, & Hönekopp, 2015;Neave, Tyson, McInnes, & Hamilton, 2016;Norberg, Crone, Kwok, & Grisham, 2018;Timpano & Shaw, 2013). Timpano and Shaw (2013) also showed that anthropomorphism increased the strength of association between hoarding beliefs and emotional attachment to novel items.…”

“…The aim of this study is to extend the cognitive-behavioral therapy model of hoarding by elaborating on the role that object attachment plays in hoarding symptoms. Aspects of object attachment identified include the tendency to look into possessions for comfort and safety (Frost et al, 1995;Hartl et al, 2005), IOA (Nedelisky & Steele, 2009), anthropomorphism (Neave et al, 2016;Timpano & Shaw, 2013), the use of possessions as self-extensions (Dozier et al, 2017), and the use of possessions for the preservation of autobiographical memories (Cherrier & Ponnor, 2010). These facets are, however, not unique to individuals who hoard and therefore one or more of them may not be significantly associated with hoarding symptoms.…”

Using photo‐elicitation and interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore possessions as links to self‐concept and the identities of others in hoarding disorder

“…These patterns of behaviour were noted in early studies of hoarding and integrated into the cognitive‐behavioural model of HD (Frost & Hartl, ; Frost & Steketee, ). Yet, whilst emotional attachment has been shown to be an important symptom correlate (Kyrios et al ., ; Neave, Tyson, McInnes, & Hamilton, ) and mediator of treatment (Levy et al ., ), it remains an under‐researched component of the model.…”

“…Neave et al . () recruited a community sample ( N = 283) to investigate the association between attachment style and attachment to objects in HD. They found significant positive correlations between attachment to inanimate objects and anxious ( r = .37) as well as avoidant ( r = .27) attachment styles.…”