<p>Jessica Hutchings</p><p>Dr. Combs</p><p>English 2010-14</p><p>October 24, 2012</p><p>Article Review 1</p><p>Hartston, H. (2012). The case for compulsive shopping as an addiction. Journal of</p><p>Psychoactive Drugs, 44(1), 64-67. doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.660110</p><p>The thrill of shopping can be as addicting as any drug. The dopamine released while shopping can be similar to the dopamine released during drug use. The experience of shopping and purchasing can be addicting. The addicting behaviors can become hyper stimulating, causing the brain to neuroadapt. Neuroadapting is when the brain gets so used to a stimulus that the stimulus has to become heightened in order for it to actually stimulate the brain. Compulsive buying is becoming more and more of a problem in today’s society. More than 6% of all shoppers are compulsive buyers, equally men and women. Compulsive shopping can have behavioral and psychological characteristics of addiction.</p><p>There are three things that can bring someone to an addiction: a hyper stimulating experience, easy accessibility, and vulnerability to addiction. A compulsive shopper has these three qualities. The problem with shopping is its easy accessibility. Shopping can be done anywhere; it is right at one’s fingertips. A shopper doesn’t have to leave the comfort of their home to engage in their addictive behavior. The store online is open 24/7. The danger with addictive behaviors is that they are engaged more than one would use drugs. The addictive behavior is fed and fed, never ceasing to stop. Neuromarketers market their product to the brain stimulus. People are most hungry when they see the colors red and yellow. The marketers show an exaggerated need for a product. The hyper stimulus is overpowering in one’s mind and ultimately one will decide that they need that product. </p><p>This article isn’t an IMRD article. But, it is a journal article that brings to light a lot of different topics of discussion. The article has a lot of very reliable sources. Its main argument is that compulsive shopping is an addictive behavior that gets fed more often than any drug addiction in this country. The addiction all stems from hyper stimulating parts of the brain and how it effects our ability to think. </p>