Compulsive shopping behavior and disvalues

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze whether disvalues—that is, undesirable traits and emotions that have a negative impact on the individual and are reflected in the Seven Deadly Sins (anger, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, and sloth) and the Dark Triad traits (narcissism, machiavellianism, and psychopathy)—have a predictive power for pathological and uncontrollable shopping behavior (compulsive shopping). Two studies were conducted on as many consumer samples to examine the relationship between disvalues and compulsive shopping behavior and the influence of personality traits on this relationship. The results of Study 1 confirmed that anger, envy, gluttony, and pride, as well as psychopathy directly influence compulsive shopping behavior. In addition, two types of consumers were identified: those who are guided by values (Sober and Light consumers) and those who are guided by disvalues (Vicious and Dark consumers). Only the latter exhibit a high levels of compulsive shopping behavior. Study 2 found that personality traits (in terms of the Big Five factors) moderate the relationship between disvalues and compulsive shopping behavior. More specifically, this relationship is negatively moderated by conscientiousness and agreeableness, and positively moderated by neuroticism.