Investigating the motivations behind acquiring and saving behaviours

Motivational theories state that our lives are organised around the pursuit of affective outcomes; that is, we behave in ways to achieve emotionally positive outcomes or avoid negative outcomes. In the hoarding and compulsive buying literatures, motivations for saving and acquiring have been studied from the perspective of affect (e.g., buying something because it is exciting, or saving to avoid the distress associated with throwing something away), and also from the perspective of cognitions (e.g., buying or saving something because it may be useful). Rarely have cognitions and affect been examined together, as theoretical models would suggest. Thus, the current study aimed to develop measures of acquiring and saving motivations that linked cognitions with their corresponding affective states. Two self-report measures (an 89 - item acquiring motives measure and a 90 - item saving motives measure) were written based on a review of the literature and consultation with 22 experts in the field. With the aim of facilitating comparison between motivations for acquiring and saving behaviours, eighty - two motives items were identical for both measures. A total of 432 participants completed these measures, along with measures of compulsive acquiring and hoarding symptoms. Exploratory factor analyses were run on both motives measures resulting in a seven - factor solution for acquiring motives and a nine - factor solution for saving motives. The following preliminary subscales were derived for both acquiring and saving motives measures; coping, alleviating social insecurity, helping others, avoiding mistakes, sentimental, and history. The subscale labelled 'goals and achievements' was unique to acquiring motives, while the following subscales were unique to saving motives; self-identity, instrumental, and completion. The preliminary motives sub scales showed small to large correlations with measures of hoarding and compulsive buying symptoms. Future research will continue to refine and develop the measures.