Ein jahrzehnt verhaltenswissenschaftlicher kaufsuchtforschung in Deutschland

Abstract

The results of a study on the development of compulsive buying in Germany over a 10-year period (1991-2001) are presented. Drawing on two national representative surveys in 1991 and 2001, the development of compulsive buying tendency was measured by applying the 'German Compulsive Buying Scale'. A marked increase in compulsive buying is observed with a particularly high increase in the East German countries where the tendency to buy compulsively has increased sixfold. Comparing the development in East and West Germany, it is argued that developments characterizing mature consumer societies create an atmosphere which supports the rise of compulsive buying.