Changing Our Behavior: Hoarding

While completing my Bachelors in Public Health and Minor in Psychology, I’ve had the opportunity to study human behavior, thought processes, and the intricacies of behavior change. One topic that has always intrigued me is hoarding. While many people associate hoarding with simply being messy or disorganized, it’s far more complex—a window into how our minds work and how emotions shape our relationship with the world around us. Let me share some insights I’ve gained through my studies and experience.

1. A Survival Instinct Gone Awry

Hoarding, at its core, stems from a survival instinct that all humans share. Our ancestors needed to collect and store resources to survive harsh conditions. For individuals with hoarding disorder, this instinct goes into overdrive, creating a compulsion to keep items “just in case.” This survival-based behavior is no longer adaptive in modern society, but it highlights how deeply ingrained hoarding tendencies can be in human psychology.

2. The Emotional Attachment to Objects

What fascinates me most about hoarders is their emotional connection to objects. These items often represent memories, security, or even identity. Letting go can feel as traumatic to them as losing a loved one. I’ve learned that, for hoarders, it’s not about the item itself—it’s about what that item symbolizes in their lives.

3. It’s More Common Than You Think

Hoarding disorder is more widespread than many people realize, affecting about 2-6% of the population. While the media tends to portray extreme cases, I’ve encountered many people who struggle with clutter and difficulty letting go of items. Hoarding exists on a spectrum, and even mild cases can cause significant stress and impact mental health.

4. A Mental Health Condition

Hoarding is recognized as a distinct mental health condition in the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual used by psychologists and psychiatrists. Through my studies in psychology, I’ve come to understand that hoarding often coexists with anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, hoarding disorder is unique in how it impacts decision-making, emotional regulation, and attachment.

5. It’s Not Just About Being Messy

One of the most common misconceptions is that hoarding is about laziness or messiness. In reality, hoarding is tied to deeply ingrained psychological patterns and emotional distress. For example, hoarders often feel overwhelmed and anxious when they try to declutter, and this emotional response keeps the cycle of hoarding alive. This is why traditional “clean-up” strategies often fail without addressing the underlying mental health issues.

6. The Role of Perfectionism

Interestingly, hoarders are often perfectionists. Many of them struggle with decision-making because they fear making the “wrong” choice about what to keep or throw away. This indecision leads to avoidance, which in turn results in growing piles of clutter. Understanding this behavior from a psychological perspective has helped me appreciate how challenging it can be for hoarders to take action.

7. Hoarding Runs in Families

From a public health perspective, it’s worth noting that hoarding often runs in families, suggesting both genetic and environmental influences. Children who grow up in hoarding households may adopt similar behaviors due to their environment, or they may react by going to the opposite extreme, becoming compulsively minimalist. This highlights how early experiences shape our relationship with possessions.

8. Media Sensationalism

Shows like Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive have raised public awareness about hoarding disorder, but they often sensationalize the issue. While these programs shed light on extreme cases, they can overlook the need for compassion and a nuanced understanding of why hoarding happens. As someone trained in psychology, I find it critical to approach these situations with empathy, not judgment.

9. Animal Hoarding

Animal hoarding is a particularly tragic subset of this disorder. People who hoard animals often believe they’re rescuing or protecting them, but they quickly become overwhelmed and unable to provide proper care. This creates unhealthy and unsafe conditions for both the animals and the individual. Understanding the motivations behind this behavior is essential to addressing it effectively.

10. The Brain’s Role in Hoarding

Neuroscience offers fascinating insights into hoarding behavior. Studies show that people with hoarding disorder have heightened activity in parts of the brain associated with decision-making and emotional processing, such as the anterior cingulate cortex and insula. This aligns with what I’ve learned about how our brains manage stress, emotion, and attachment.

11. Cultural Perspectives

Hoarding also varies across cultures. In some societies, holding onto possessions is seen as practical or resourceful, while in others, it’s viewed as pathological or wasteful. As someone trained in public health, I find it fascinating how cultural norms and socioeconomic factors shape our attitudes toward hoarding.

12. Hope and Treatment

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that hoarding can be treated. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is especially effective, helping individuals challenge their beliefs about possessions and gradually learn to declutter. In severe cases, public health professionals, therapists, and professional organizers can collaborate to provide the support needed to reclaim living spaces. Like in the show Hoarders.

Hoarding is a complex and deeply human issue that intertwines psychology, behavior, and emotion. My background in public health and psychology has shown me the importance of approaching hoarding with empathy, understanding, and evidence-based strategies. Whether working with individuals or raising awareness about the condition, I believe the key to progress lies in compassion and tailored support.