第3166期:Why we like collecting things

People collect all sorts of things. I collect fridge magnets, so my fridge has slowly become a colourful map of everywhere I've been. I also have fond memories of collecting rocks and shells from the beach with my mum when we’d visit the coast in summer. It’s true that some people collect natural objects such as fossils and interesting stones, while others bring home souvenirs from their travels. There are also people collecting miniature versions of real commercial products and tiny replicas of familiar objects, for example scaled-down retro toys, classic board games and action figures. In this way, collectables can be both decorative and functional, giving us something nostalgic to look at or fiddle with when bored. 人们收集各种各样的东西。 我收集冰箱贴，所以我的冰箱慢慢地变成了一张彩色地图，上面写着我去过的任何地方。 当我们夏天去海岸时，我也有和妈妈一起从海滩收集岩石和贝壳的美好回忆。 确实，有些人收集化石和有趣的石头等自然物品，而另一些人则将旅行中的纪念品带回家。 还有人收集真实商业产品的微型版本和熟悉物品的微型复制品，例如缩小版复古玩具、经典棋盘游戏和动作玩偶。 这样，收藏品就可以兼具装饰性和功能性，让我们在无聊时可以看看或摆弄一些怀旧的东西。

But why do people have such a strong desire to collect things? One explanation is that collecting gives us a sense of order and achievement. Happiful, a mental health and wellbeing magazine, wrote that adding to a collection creates a sense of progress and accomplishment. According to an article published in the Journal of Consumer Research, titled Seeking Structure in Collections: Desire for Control Motivates Engagement in Collecting, collecting can help people feel more in control. It explains that collections can become an extension of our identity. The things we collect reflect our hobbies, interests and loyalties. 但为什么人们有如此强烈的收藏欲望呢？ 一种解释是，收藏给我们一种秩序感和成就感。 《幸福》是一本心理健康和幸福杂志，它写道，添加收藏可以带来进步和成就感。 根据发表在《消费者研究杂志》上的一篇题为《寻求收藏中的结构：控制欲激发人们参与收藏》的文章，收藏可以帮助人们感觉更有控制力。 它解释了收藏可以成为我们身份的延伸。 我们收集的东西反映了我们的爱好、兴趣和忠诚度。

However, not everyone believes collecting is beneficial. Advocates of minimalism argue that owning fewer possessions improves wellbeing. As Beverley D'Silva reported for the BBC, the simplicity associated with a minimalist lifestyle may even contribute to greater happiness. From this perspective, filling our homes with collections can seem more like unnecessarily hoarding clutter. There is also an important distinction between thoughtfully curating your collection and simply accumulating more possessions. The Journal of Consumer Research article warns that some collectors can be drawn into excessive spending, especially when companies release new or rare additions to collections that were once considered complete. In those cases, collecting may be driven less by passion and more by pressure. 然而，并非所有人都认为收集是有益的。 极简主义的倡导者认为，拥有更少的财产可以改善幸福感。 正如 Beverley D'Silva 为 BBC 报道的那样，与极简主义生活方式相关的简单甚至可能有助于增加幸福感。 从这个角度来看，在我们的家里堆满收藏品似乎更像是不必要地囤积杂物。 精心策划你的收藏和简单地积累更多财产之间也有一个重要的区别。 《消费者研究杂志》的文章警告说，一些收藏家可能会陷入过度消费，特别是当公司为曾经被认为完整的收藏品推出新的或罕见的补充品时。 在这些情况下，收藏可能更多地受到压力而非激情的驱动。

Despite this, collecting remains as popular as ever. Perhaps the reason collecting endures is simple – collections tell stories. And displaying these collections can be just as satisfying as finding them. Happiful describes collections as a kind of self-portrait, reflecting our interests, personality and memories. Whether it's fridge magnets, shells or action figures, the real value often lies not in the objects themselves, but in the memories and meanings attached to them. 尽管如此，收藏仍然一如既往地流行。 也许收藏经久不衰的原因很简单——藏品讲述故事。 展示这些藏品就像找到它们一样令人满意。 Happiful 将收藏描述为一种自画像，反映我们的兴趣、个性和记忆。 无论是冰箱贴、贝壳还是人偶，真正的价值往往不在于物体本身，而在于它们所附加的记忆和意义。