COLLECTING - What drives our passion - Long read so wait till you have time - wrote this on my "
Stone193
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While visiting Mars and Venus over the past few months - I noticed for sure collectors are 'wired' differently than normal human beings from the planet earth.
So, I did a little reading and came up with a little Psych 101 paper - I never had any psychology in college to speak of - so PLEASE - don't think I'm implying anything - it just may be a little insight into what and why we do what we do.
Collecting
It's a blend of acquisitiveness, intellectual curiosity, a desire to possess and organize tangible objects, the lure of immortality and a “certain amount of showing off.” Why some people stop their childhood collecting while others carry it into adulthood is not fully understood.
Furthermore, some see collecting as a “philosophical project” that seeks to make “sense” of the militplicity and chaos in the world, and perhaps even to find in it a “hidden” meaning or sense of order.
The danger arises when a collector loses complete touch with reality and allows the hobby to dictate all other aspects of one's life. Every dealer can name collectors who would spend the rent money to buy a coveted rarity – who neglects their health, their families and their social responsibilities to satisfy their compulsion. Much like drug addition, alchoholism or gambling, chronically compulsive collecting can be devastating. It's probably a manifestion fo some disguised emotional problem. This – of course – is contrasted by the “healthy collector” who sets goals, establishes a budgets and sticks to a plan.
The key to a 'normal' collector and an obsessed one may be as simple as: “are you controlling the collecting process or is the process controlling you?” Some see a subtle character to collecting – the “act” is some kind of substitute for something that's lacking in one's person? Who knows?
And last and most important to me – when does a collector truly graduate and be classified as a hobbyist? When the “Joy of Learning” overtakes the desire and excitement of acquiring and possessing.
Categories of Collectors – many of us will fall into one or more of these divisions.
1. Passionate collector – they find something they like, get emotionally attached to that type of item and having tangible proof of their attraction is personally satifying. These kind of collectors tend to be more emotional and obsessive - they get a lot of personal satisfaction whey they find a new item.
2. Inquisitive collector – they collect for the purpose of investment – and will part with their items if the price is right. There's no emotional attachment, as such.
3. Hobbyist collector – they collect purely for the enjoyment – they're not emtionally attached to their items but will not part with them either. These people are normally goal-oriented and enjoy searching for uncommon items they can display or receive praise for.
4. Expressive collector – these people collect things as an expression of who they are – these collectors like attention.
One can break down the Process of Collecting into steps:
The decision of “what” to collect – this can be conscious or unconscious. They see something they like and buy it. Then, this may trigger a desire to collect more of the same item. In come cases, a person may get another of the item as a birthday present, e.g., and then, start collecting more – I think this is a 5th category of collector: the “accidental” collector.
The “research” - in this case the new collector starts to gather all the information they can on their item. It can range from catalogues, books, publications, internet, ebay, etc. At this point, the new collector is beginning to take the process more seriously.
The “planning” phase – during this phase, the collector begins to set his or her prices and zero in on certain objects. An emotional attachment to the desired item normally begins here. Possessing the wanted item becomes a very tangible and exciting thought. The serious collector often becomes heavily involved in the collection process during this phase, isolating him or herself from others. Driven by the need to succeed, the collector becomes adamant about obtaining the next and more difficult item. *This is the point where one should establish a BUDGET IMO.
The “Hunt” - This is the part where the tension is at it's height! This is where the collector becomes competitive – will travel hundreds of miles for an item – also the time where obsession creeps in – they become “single-minded” - nothing else counts at this moment. I believe this is where one is so obsessed that even if there's controvery around them, they will “slip” back into thinking about their quest in the middle of being confronted with something job related e.g.
The “Acquisition” phase – this is the point where the item is in the person's hand and they feel a special elation – the tension is released and they feel a special sense of accomplishment – they have a strong feeling of confidence and it's like they can do anything! Endorphins are flowing and the “goal” has been won!
The “Display” phase – the item is home and now the collector is almost compelled to share this with the world – they may clean a special area for it – they will call friends, relatives, “anybody” who'll listen and share in their conquest! The collector can sleep easy now – in fact, they probably feel a special sense of satisfaction that they have this item and it's no longer available to someone else.
The “Return” - this is what I would call the 'diseased' phase of collecting since it involves coming down from the 'high' - down from the mountaintop and needing another “fix.” After the display phase – one may stop collecting totally, or find another thing to collect or just search for more of the same type items.
In conclusion, the motives for collecting are manifold. And, as we can see, some collect for investment, others for the sheer enjoyment, some collect for the socially interactive satisfaction of contacting other collectors, some do it to preserve the past – or connect with their childhood – and still others collect as a life-long quest that never ends. Further motivations may be psychological fulfillment – a feeling of finding order in the chaos of life – within and without. A need to be acknowledged may drive someone to collect and acquire special items that are noteworthy by others.
Moreover, many may see their collection as a means of immortality? Ordering ones collection can give a sense of control that's lacking in the outside world.
Of couse, any one collector may possess any multiple of these motives and be a mixture of collector types.
For the sake of discussion – I've decided we're all normal here and won't get into compulsive hoarding and Freud!
Finally - and again - this is NOT a scholarly write-up - I took one course in psychology in college and that was almost 40 years ago! This was just an inquisitive attempt to put my finger on what we do and why. Some are my own ideas and most of it is plucked right out of internet articles and most is rewritten in my own words.
Happy collecting!
mike
So, I did a little reading and came up with a little Psych 101 paper - I never had any psychology in college to speak of - so PLEASE - don't think I'm implying anything - it just may be a little insight into what and why we do what we do.
Collecting
It's a blend of acquisitiveness, intellectual curiosity, a desire to possess and organize tangible objects, the lure of immortality and a “certain amount of showing off.” Why some people stop their childhood collecting while others carry it into adulthood is not fully understood.
Furthermore, some see collecting as a “philosophical project” that seeks to make “sense” of the militplicity and chaos in the world, and perhaps even to find in it a “hidden” meaning or sense of order.
The danger arises when a collector loses complete touch with reality and allows the hobby to dictate all other aspects of one's life. Every dealer can name collectors who would spend the rent money to buy a coveted rarity – who neglects their health, their families and their social responsibilities to satisfy their compulsion. Much like drug addition, alchoholism or gambling, chronically compulsive collecting can be devastating. It's probably a manifestion fo some disguised emotional problem. This – of course – is contrasted by the “healthy collector” who sets goals, establishes a budgets and sticks to a plan.
The key to a 'normal' collector and an obsessed one may be as simple as: “are you controlling the collecting process or is the process controlling you?” Some see a subtle character to collecting – the “act” is some kind of substitute for something that's lacking in one's person? Who knows?
And last and most important to me – when does a collector truly graduate and be classified as a hobbyist? When the “Joy of Learning” overtakes the desire and excitement of acquiring and possessing.
Categories of Collectors – many of us will fall into one or more of these divisions.
1. Passionate collector – they find something they like, get emotionally attached to that type of item and having tangible proof of their attraction is personally satifying. These kind of collectors tend to be more emotional and obsessive - they get a lot of personal satisfaction whey they find a new item.
2. Inquisitive collector – they collect for the purpose of investment – and will part with their items if the price is right. There's no emotional attachment, as such.
3. Hobbyist collector – they collect purely for the enjoyment – they're not emtionally attached to their items but will not part with them either. These people are normally goal-oriented and enjoy searching for uncommon items they can display or receive praise for.
4. Expressive collector – these people collect things as an expression of who they are – these collectors like attention.
One can break down the Process of Collecting into steps:
The decision of “what” to collect – this can be conscious or unconscious. They see something they like and buy it. Then, this may trigger a desire to collect more of the same item. In come cases, a person may get another of the item as a birthday present, e.g., and then, start collecting more – I think this is a 5th category of collector: the “accidental” collector.
The “research” - in this case the new collector starts to gather all the information they can on their item. It can range from catalogues, books, publications, internet, ebay, etc. At this point, the new collector is beginning to take the process more seriously.
The “planning” phase – during this phase, the collector begins to set his or her prices and zero in on certain objects. An emotional attachment to the desired item normally begins here. Possessing the wanted item becomes a very tangible and exciting thought. The serious collector often becomes heavily involved in the collection process during this phase, isolating him or herself from others. Driven by the need to succeed, the collector becomes adamant about obtaining the next and more difficult item. *This is the point where one should establish a BUDGET IMO.
The “Hunt” - This is the part where the tension is at it's height! This is where the collector becomes competitive – will travel hundreds of miles for an item – also the time where obsession creeps in – they become “single-minded” - nothing else counts at this moment. I believe this is where one is so obsessed that even if there's controvery around them, they will “slip” back into thinking about their quest in the middle of being confronted with something job related e.g.
The “Acquisition” phase – this is the point where the item is in the person's hand and they feel a special elation – the tension is released and they feel a special sense of accomplishment – they have a strong feeling of confidence and it's like they can do anything! Endorphins are flowing and the “goal” has been won!
The “Display” phase – the item is home and now the collector is almost compelled to share this with the world – they may clean a special area for it – they will call friends, relatives, “anybody” who'll listen and share in their conquest! The collector can sleep easy now – in fact, they probably feel a special sense of satisfaction that they have this item and it's no longer available to someone else.
The “Return” - this is what I would call the 'diseased' phase of collecting since it involves coming down from the 'high' - down from the mountaintop and needing another “fix.” After the display phase – one may stop collecting totally, or find another thing to collect or just search for more of the same type items.
In conclusion, the motives for collecting are manifold. And, as we can see, some collect for investment, others for the sheer enjoyment, some collect for the socially interactive satisfaction of contacting other collectors, some do it to preserve the past – or connect with their childhood – and still others collect as a life-long quest that never ends. Further motivations may be psychological fulfillment – a feeling of finding order in the chaos of life – within and without. A need to be acknowledged may drive someone to collect and acquire special items that are noteworthy by others.
Moreover, many may see their collection as a means of immortality? Ordering ones collection can give a sense of control that's lacking in the outside world.
Of couse, any one collector may possess any multiple of these motives and be a mixture of collector types.
For the sake of discussion – I've decided we're all normal here and won't get into compulsive hoarding and Freud!
Finally - and again - this is NOT a scholarly write-up - I took one course in psychology in college and that was almost 40 years ago! This was just an inquisitive attempt to put my finger on what we do and why. Some are my own ideas and most of it is plucked right out of internet articles and most is rewritten in my own words.
Happy collecting!
mike
Mike
0
Comments
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That covers just about everybody.
I suspect multiple motives exist in all collectors.
BUT, in my case, as time passes, I care mostly/only about the potential for monetary gains.
There are a few exceptions to that, but not very many.
Paper
<< <i>BUT, in my case, as time passes, I care mostly/only about the potential for monetary gains. >>
And that's totally cool Storm.
For me - the key is having fun - cards were originally printed to attract kids to gum products postwar - and there's a little kid in all of us.
mike
<< <i>Here is a paper, relatively old, written largely by a researcher in the University of Utah that tries to understand the phenomenon of collecting. >>
Thanx MD - I don't expect everyone to get excited about this kind of stuff - but it's important that we bring balance to the boards - i.e. - all threads can't be about pop reports, ebay, scams etc.
This isn't sexy or juicy stuff - but I believe adds some depth to everyone's hobby experience.
mike
Yeah, I may change once I get a steady salary under me after school and I'm able to blow more money on different things but I tend to doubt that for some reason.
I taught Intro to Psychology for 7 years I did a unit on violent behavior. Its kind of scary but your phases of a collector is pretty similar to the phases that a serial killer goes through.
According to Joel Norris, there are 6 phases of the serial killer's cycle: 1) The Aura Phase, where the killer begins losing grip on reality; 2) The Trolling Phase, when the killer searches for a victim; 3) The Wooing Phase, where the killer lures his victim in; 4) The Capture Phase, where the victim is entrapped; 5) The Murder or Totem phase, which is the emotional high for killers; and finally, 6) The Depression Phase, which occurs after the killing.
Norris writes that when depression sets in, it triggers the phases into beginning again.
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I think its pretty juicy.
It looks to the core of "what" brings people here.
There is alot of causational commonality in the paths
of ALL collectors; you laid it out in simple terms.
The "storehouse of value" rationality of collecting foibles
is shared by most folks here. They rationalize that their
fun buys will someday return some non-fun value; that
makes current squandering more comfortable.
As a ute, I sometimes told myself things that were NOT
close to being correct. As an old guy, I try to do less of
that. That effort makes me look for added-value and
stable-value in my squandering. Collecting is about the
most fun one can have, and it is good to have an exit
plan with each fun buy.
I blame it on my mother.
Steve
"no matter how much you spend, it will never change the fact your Dad never said 'I Love You'" Which deep down I think may have had some truth to it.
Great essay!
<< <i>Its kind of scary but your phases of a collector is pretty similar to the phases that a serial killer goes through. >>
I have learned a little here and there over time but one thing is fer sure:
There's no right or wrong reason for collecting as long as you're having fun and not neglecting some responsibility as a result of that end.
As much as I really enjoy collecting, I would be a liar if I said I wouldn't be disappointed if my collection became worthless.
Happy Collecting - last - I got a Stone's been pondering thread in me - I'll have to check my files.
mike