Compulsive Buying: a Qualitative Inquiry Mei-Lin Lawson a Clinical
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Compulsive Buying: A Qualitative Inquiry Mei-Lin Lawson A Clinical Research Project submitted to the faculty of the Hawai‘i School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Hawai‘i in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Honolulu, Hawai‘i June 2018 © copyright 2018 by Mei-Lin Lawson All Rights Reserved Compulsive Buying: A Qualitative Inquiry Mei-Lin Lawson Hawai‘i School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Hawai‘i Abstract Although buying is part of our everyday lives, compulsive buying is a problem that is beginning to receive more attention. The objective of this study was to understand and learn about the processes that facilitate and maintain compulsive buying from the perspective of individuals who have engaged in this behavior through a transcendental phenomenological approach. Although the current literature on compulsive buying focuses on negative emotions, the intent was to broaden and deepen theory to include unique experiential insights from individuals who engage in compulsive buying. Two participants who identified themselves as compulsive buyers were interviewed. Results were presented in a personal narrative style and suggested similarities and differences among the two participants’ experiences. Findings from this qualitative inquiry demonstrate the nuances in the different perspectives of an issue that is often overlooked because financial behaviors are not openly discussed due to various reasons (e.g., shame, negative reactions from others, guilt, regret). It is hoped that this study highlights the benefits of talking about finances to promote emotional and financial well-being. Acknowledgement First of all, I would like to thank my participants for taking the time to share their stories with me. I would also like to express my gratitude to my committee chair and academic advisor, Dr. Lianne Philhower for inspiring the topic and supporting me throughout the research project as well as the doctoral program. Also, a sincere gratitude to my committee member, Dr. Joy Tanji for her encouragement through this qualitative journey and assisting me with staying close to the emic perspective. Thank you to my peer examiner, friend, and colleague, Catherine Gallahue, for all the extra time and effort you put to review my coding and narrative drafts. I also want to thank my dear friend and peer debriefer, Jolene Young, for easing my anxieties, reassuring I was on the right path, and pushing me to just get it done. Catherine and Jolene, thank you also for standing by me unconditionally throughout the doctoral program. There is no amount of words that can express the degree of gratitude I have for all these wonderful individuals. THANK YOU! MAHALO! v Table of Contents Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………....………..v Table of contents………………………………………………………………………....………....vi CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………...1 Situating the Study………………………………………………………………………....1 Review of Literature……………………………………………………………………….2 Emotions…………………………………………………………………………..3 Affect, Emotion, and Mood………………………………………………3 Emotions as Feelings of Changes in the Body…………………………...4 Range of Emotions……………………………………………………….7 Theories of Emotions…………………………………………………….7 The Cannon-Bard Theory……………………………………….8 The Schachter-Singer Theory………………………..………….9 Tomkins’ Facial Feedback Theory……………………………...9 Opponent-Process Theory of Emotion…………………………10 Emotional Expression…………………………………………………...11 Emotions and Decision-Making………………………………………...12 Negative Emotions and Impulsive Behavior……………………………15 Emotion Regulation……………………………………………………..17 Money……………………………………………………………………………23 Money and Emotional Well-Being……………………………………...24 Money Behaviors………………………………………………………………...25 Disordered Money Behaviors…………………………………………...25 Compulsive Buying……………………………………………………..25 vii Comorbidity……………………………………………………31 Neurobiological factors…………………………………………31 Compulsive buying and impulsivity……………………………32 Compulsive buying and materialism…………………………...32 Compulsive buying and negative emotions…………………….33 Compulsive buying and deficits in emotion regulation………...36 Compulsive online shopping…………………………………...38 Treatment………………………………………………………………..42 Summary………………………………………………………………………....43 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………………………44 Statement of Purpose……………………………………………………………………...45 Research Questions…………………...…………………………………………………...46 Grand Tour Questions…………………………………………………….……………....47 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………...….……....48 CHAPTER II: APPROACH……………………….………………….………….……………….50 Rationale for Use of Qualitative Methodology……………………………………….......50 Specific Methodology………………….………….………………………………….......52 Role of the Researcher………….………….…………………….………….……………53 Inter-subjectivity………………………………………………………………….53 Participant-observer Role………………………………………………………..54 Ethical Considerations…...….………….……………………….…….………………….55 Purposive Sampling and Bounding of the study……….………….…………...…………59 Data Collection and Analysis………….………….………...………….………….……...61 Methods of Verification….………….…………………….………….…………………..70 Validity…………………………………………………………………………..70 viii Reliability………………………………………………………………………..74 CHAPTER III: EMERGENT FIELD METHOD……………………….………….……………..81 Pre-entry…………………………………………………………………………………..81 Review of Biases………………………………………………………………....82 Theoretical/professional biases………………………………………….82 Methodological biases…………………………………………………..83 Personal biases………………………………………………………….85 Gatekeepers………………………………………………………………...........86 Role Management……………………………………………………………….87 Entry……………………………………………………………………………………...88 Purposive Sampling……………………………………………………………..88 Informed Consent Protocol……………………………………………………...89 Constant Comparative Method…………………………………………………………..90 Interview Process……………………………………………………………….90 Peer Debriefing…………………………………………………………………91 Coding Process………………………………………………………………….91 Peer Examination…………………………………………………………….....92 Generating the Personal Narrative for each participant………………………...92 Member Check………………………………………………………………….93 CHAPTER IV. NARRATIVE FINDINGS………………………………………………………95 Ariel……………………………………………………………………………………...95 Jane……………………………………………………………………………………..105 Summary……………………………………………………………………………….120 CHAPTER V. DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………..121 Conceptual Model of Findings………………………………………………………....121 ix. Similarities and Differences among participants……………………………....120 Discussion of the findings in relation to the research questions and extant literature.....126 Compulsive Buying and Impulsive Buying……………………………………126 Process and Functionality of Compulsive Buying……………………………..129 Change in Compulsive Buying Experience Over the Lifespan………………..132 Diversity Factors Influencing Buying Behavior……………………….………134 Clinical Implications of the study………………………………………………………135 Limitations of the study………………………………………………………………...137 Recommendations for Future Studies………………………………………………......138 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...139 References………………………………………………………………………………….…...140 Appendices A. IRB Certification Letter …………………………………………………………...147 B. Initial Informed Consent Form…………………………………………….….…...149 C. Final Informed Consent and Release of Information Form…………………….….153 D. Confidentiality Agreement for Peer Debriefer/Peer Examiner ……………………154 E. Coding Sample……………………………………………………………….....….155 x. 1 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION Money is the most common method of exchange and occurs in many aspects of our daily life. People rely on money to get the things they need and want. For others, money can “buy” the feelings they desire or need to cope with situations in their life. Our emotions and money behaviors may have an underlying relationship that may not be apparent. Situating the Study To situate a study, researchers examine their relationship to the phenomenon and how their personal experiences may contribute to the desire to conduct the study (Glesne, 2006). The researcher considers how his or her experiences shape the view through which the study is bound. Additionally, researchers consider how their presences and assumptions impacts the phenomenon being study and also considers the impact of the participants on them. Situating a study, enhances the methodological rigor of the study, helping the researcher clarify how much of the story is the participants and what may be the product of the researcher’s perspective. Although, I do not consider myself a compulsive shopper, I have engaged in buying behavior in order to cope with negative emotions or situations in my life. I have noticed that I would buy something, either clothes or even a delicious meal, when distressed or to avoid a situation. This would typically result in a temporary alleviation of distress. Through my experience working with family members within their home, I have observed the mother of this family display these behaviors. Unlike my own experience, her buying behavior eventually resulted in negative consequences (e.g., financial restraints, large amount of unused items) and seemed to mask deeper underlying issues she was avoiding. As life events became significantly more stressful, I noticed she would return home with more items that were not necessities (e.g., 2 clothing, shoes, decorative household items). I thought her buying behavior was similar to an addiction; however, it was overlooked by her family members and her mental health providers. Consumerism is generally accepted in our society, therefore it may be overlooked by many as not a problem. Although shopping is generally socially