What Drives People To Become Collectors?

Summary

This DNews video explores the human instinct to collect items, from stamps to movie tickets. It discusses how collecting is a bonding activity and a thrill-seeking behavior rooted in our evolutionary past, where gathering resources was crucial for survival. The script delves into the neuroscience behind collecting, explaining how the brain's dopamine release rewards the 'hunt' but also makes letting go difficult. It also touches on abnormal collecting behaviors like hoarding disorder, linking it to specific brain activity and areas like the anterior cingulate cortex and insula.

Takeaways

• 🌟 People collect things for various reasons, such as bonding with others, curiosity, and the thrill of the hunt.
• 🔍 Collecting is a widespread behavior found in over 70 animal species, suggesting a primitive urge.
• 🧠 The urge to collect is linked to the brain's reward system, which releases dopamine when we find something we collect.
• 🌱 Early humans may have developed the trait of collecting to ensure survival during harsh seasons or famine.
• 🧪 Research has identified a specific area in the frontal lobes of the cortex as being responsible for collecting behavior.
• 🤔 Abnormal collecting behavior can be associated with focal brain lesions in certain areas of the brain.
• 🐒 Dopamine levels play a role in how we feel about letting go of collected items, similar to how monkeys react to rewards.
• 🧠 Hoarding disorder is linked to abnormal brain activity in areas like the anterior cingulate cortex and insula.
• 🧐 Hoarders may have decreased activity in the posterior cingulate gyrus, affecting spatial orientation and memory.
• 📺 Collecting can be a natural and beneficial behavior, but when it becomes excessive, it can lead to problems and is the subject of TV shows.

Q & A

What is one of the reasons people collect things?

One reason people collect things is to bond with others, like sharing a hobby with family members.

How does collecting relate to our natural instincts?

Collecting is a very primitive urge found throughout the animal kingdom, and it's thought to go back to early human days as hunter-gatherers where collecting food was crucial for survival.

What is the 'thrill of the hunt' and how does it relate to collecting?

The 'thrill of the hunt' refers to the excitement of finding a rare item, which causes the brain to release dopamine, creating a positive feedback loop that encourages further collecting behavior.

Which part of the brain is associated with collecting behavior according to the research mentioned in the script?

The research identifies a specific area in the frontal lobes of the cortex, particularly on the right side, as being responsible for collecting behavior.

Why do some people have difficulty letting go of their collections?

People have difficulty letting go of their collections because it's a biological response; the brain releases dopamine when receiving a reward, and when the reward (like a collected item) is taken away, it can cause discomfort.

How does the brain's response to rewards relate to hoarding behavior?

The brain's response to rewards, such as the release of dopamine, can lead to hoarding behavior if the brain becomes accustomed to the reward and seeks more, leading to an accumulation of items.

What are the specific brain abnormalities found in patients with hoarding disorder?

Patients with hoarding disorder have abnormal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insula, and lower activity in the posterior cingulate gyrus, which is involved in spatial orientation and memory.

Why might people who hoard have problems with clutter and fear of losing things?

People who hoard might have problems with clutter and fear of losing things because of decreased brain activity in areas related to spatial orientation and memory, making them more attached to items that may be associated with memories.

What is the evolutionary advantage of collecting behavior?

The evolutionary advantage of collecting behavior is that it helped early humans survive by ensuring they had enough resources, such as food, during harsh seasons or famine.

How does the dopamine release mechanism affect our collecting behavior?

The dopamine release mechanism reinforces collecting behavior by making the act of finding and acquiring items rewarding. However, as the brain gets used to the reward, it releases less dopamine, prompting individuals to continue seeking the next 'thrill of the hunt'.

What is the significance of the dopamine spike when finding a rare item?

The dopamine spike when finding a rare item signals to the brain that the action is rewarding, which encourages repetition of the behavior, thus driving the collecting habit.