Many people think that shopping is just to buy what you need, and it is a hard material need. But a recent study shows that 63.9% of women shop to improve their mood, and 39.2% of respondents believe that shopping does have an effect. Shopping has long been known to make people happy, but little is known about why.
1. Shopping can reduce stress and divert attention
Whether it’s shopping online or shopping for things at the supermarket or clothes at the mall, shopping takes time and attention, and in the process of shopping, you can focus on the items you want instead of the stressors in your life. Not only does time pass very quickly, but it is also fun. According to Ruth Engs of Indiana University, some people become addicted to shopping because they are usually stressed, and shopping can relieve stress. Shopping is essentially addicting to the way your brain feels while shopping. When you shop, your brain releases endorphins and dopamine, which over time can become addictive.
2. Shopping may boost your confidence
Consumption can be used as a means to achieve a goal or fulfill a wish, such as a nice dress or a fitted suit can soothe your soul, boost your confidence, help you find a job or inspire creativity. Or maybe you've been saving up to buy a car that's been yours for a long time, and you'll be happy the moment you get it. According to a 2011 study published in the Journal of Psychology and Marketing, shopping can have a positive effect on your mood. The study noted that 28% of shoppers purchased something to celebrate an occasion or personal victory, and 62% did so to cheer themselves up. Indeed, money can boost confidence and buy happiness.
3. Shopping can put you in control
When you walk into a store, you are the one calling the shots and the clerk is there to serve you. Syon Bhanot, assistant professor of economics at Swarthmore College in the United States, believes that many things in our lives are uncertain and fragile. But when you're shopping, you have absolute control over an item, which helps ease frustration.
4. It feels good to spend money
"Our brain's motivation and reward centers (such as the ventral tegmental area) are closely linked," says Catherine Franssen, assistant professor of psychology at Longwood University. When we want something, these brain regions become very active and secrete dopamine, which causes our brain to release more serotonin, leading to a certain "must get it" feeling. To address this "irritable" problem, we need to seek satisfaction (in part mediated by nearby areas of the brain and the neurotransmitter serotonin). These motivational and reward centers in the brain are tied to our memory banks, reminding us that buying something triggers gratification and makes us feel good. Everyone loves to have something new every now and then, and shopping can bring something new into your life and refresh you. So, no matter what the reason for wanting to spend money (maybe anxiety, sadness, or fear of missing out on the latest iPhone), the brain reminds us that shopping makes us feel better.
