OCD Family Podcast S3E115: OCRD Series III, Part III: Digital Hoarding: When Clutter Isn't Just Physical with Nick Neave, Ph.D.
Nov 15, 2024
Dr. Nick Neave, a psychology professor and director of the Hoarding Research Group, delves into the complexities of digital hoarding. He explains how emotional attachments and decision paralysis lead to clutter, both online and offline. Nick discusses the development of the Digital Hoarding Questionnaire and how digital clutter can impact daily functioning and cybersecurity. He also highlights the stigma around hoarding and practical advice for families looking to help their loved ones. Tune in for insights into tackling this modern dilemma with empathy and understanding!
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Fear Of Regret Drives Saving
- Fear of making a mistake underlies keeping digital and physical items.
- People persistently save duplicates to avoid regret, driving overload and stress.
Digital Clutter Has Real Costs
- Digital hoarding adds cyber-security risk, financial cost, and a measurable carbon footprint.
- Neave links more stored data to increased server energy and emissions comparable to industries like aviation.
Hoarding As An Extension Of Normality
- Hoarding sits on a spectrum of normal human attachment to possessions and is culturally reinforced.
- Neave warns against shaming and says insight must come from the person, not coercion.