The psychology of people who spend money without restraint

People who spend money without restraint may have impulse control disorders or specific psychological needs that are not met. This type of behavior is usually associated with factors such as immediate gratification tendencies, emotional compensation mechanisms, lack of self-worth, maladjustment to social stress, materialistic values, etc. Some cases may be accompanied by pathological states such as manic episodes or compulsive shopping disorders.

1. Instant gratification tendency

The excessive pursuit of immediate pleasure by the brain reward circuit weakens the ability to delay gratification. When seeing a desired product, the excitement brought by dopamine secretion overwhelms rational thinking, forming a behavior pattern of regretting after buying but repeating. This group of people often lack a clear concept of future financial planning and are more likely to be stimulated by marketing tactics such as limited time promotions by businesses.

2. Emotional compensation mechanism

Filling emotional gaps through shopping behavior is a common psychological compensation method. When individuals encounter stressful events, intimate relationship conflicts, or self-identity crises, the sense of control and fleeting pleasure generated by consumer behavior may become emotional regulation tools. Clinical observations have found that some patients with binge eating disorder may exhibit excessive consumption behavior simultaneously, which is a manifestation of filling the inner void with external substances.

3. Lack of self-worth

equating material possessions with the enhancement of self-worth is a typical psychological trap in the era of consumerism. The illusion of identity brought about by purchasing luxury goods or high priced products may temporarily alleviate individuals' inferiority and anxiety. This mentality is particularly evident in conspicuous consumption on social media, where the presence is confirmed through others' likes and comments.

4. Social pressure maladjustment

The herd behavior in SEP groups often stems from the need for social security. When individuals in their social circle engage in high consumption, they may exceed their economic capacity to consume out of fear of being excluded. The excessive material display in the marriage and love market also belongs to this category, which proves one's social status matching through consumption behavior.

5. Materialistic values

The cognitive bias towards material accumulation as the core indicator of life happiness can lead to sustained overconsumption. These values may stem from compensation for material deprivation experienced during childhood, or from cognitive solidification formed by long-term exposure to consumerist cultural propaganda. Severe cases may exhibit hoarding tendencies and continue to purchase items even if they exceed actual demand. Improving unrestrained consumption requires establishing healthy financial management and emotional regulation methods. It is recommended to use accounting software to visualize the flow of consumption, establish a cooling off period system for shopping, and force a 24-hour delay in decision-making before non essential consumption. Cultivate low-cost hobbies to replace shopping pleasure, such as sports, reading, and other activities that can generate endogenous pleasure. For severe cases accompanied by anxiety and depression, cognitive-behavioral therapy combined with mindfulness training can effectively break the cycle of impulsive consumption. It is recommended to prepare a budget list in advance before and after important holidays to avoid irrational spending in the consumer atmosphere created by businesses.