Impulse buying—defined as an unplanned acquisition triggered by affective arousal rather than deliberate evaluation—constitutes a significant deviation from the rational actor model that has traditionally underpinned economic theory. Notwithstanding the assumption that consumers systematically weigh costs against benefits, empirical evidence suggests that a considerable proportion of purchasing decisions are executed spontaneously, frequently undermining long-term financial objectives. This discrepancy between intended and enacted behavior necessitates a nuanced examination of the psychological mechanisms that govern consumer choice.
The determinants of impulse buying are multidimensional, encompassing affective, cognitive, and environmental influences. From an affective standpoint, individuals experiencing aversive emotional states—such as anxiety, boredom, or existential discontent—may engage in purchasing as a maladaptive mood-regulation strategy, colloquially termed "retail therapy." Neurobiologically, the anticipation of acquisition precipitates dopamine release, thereby reinforcing the behavior irrespective of its consequences. Cognitively, exposure to scarcity cues and time-limited promotions impairs deliberative processing, inducing what researchers term "hot" decision-making, whereby immediate gratification supersedes prudential judgment. Environmentally, the digitalization of commerce has exacerbated these vulnerabilities: saved payment credentials and algorithmically curated advertisements substantially reduce the temporal and cognitive friction that might otherwise inhibit spontaneous consumption. The repercussions of chronic impulse buying extend beyond individual financial detriment, encompassing psychological distress, indebtedness—particularly among younger demographics—and environmentally unsustainable patterns of overconsumption.
Mitigating impulse buying necessitates a dual approach encompassing individual self-regulation and systemic intervention. At the individual level, strategies such as imposing a mandatory 24-hour moratorium on unplanned purchases and eliminating stored payment information have demonstrated efficacy in restoring deliberative control. At the systemic level, stricter regulation of manipulative marketing practices is warranted, particularly those targeting vulnerable populations. Ultimately, the capacity to resist impulsive consumption is not merely a function of willpower but a cultivable competency—one that is increasingly indispensable in an economic environment engineered to encourage spontaneity.
الفيديو
تحميل ملف PDF
المفردات
المصطلح (English)
الترجمة (Arabic)
Impulse Buying
الشراء الاندفاعي
Acquisition
اقتناء
Affective Arousal
الإثارة العاطفية
Deliberate Evaluation
التقييم المتعمد
Deviation
انحراف
Rational Actor
الفاعل العقلاني
Underpinned
شكّل الأساس لـ
Empirical Evidence
الأدلة التجريبية
Spontaneously
بشكل عفوي
Undermining
تقويض
Discrepancy
تباين
Enacted Behavior
السلوك الفعلي
Nuanced
دقيق ومتعمق
Mechanisms
آليات
Determinants
العوامل المحددة
Multidimensional
متعدد الأبعاد
Affective
عاطفي
Cognitive
معرفي
Aversive
سلبي أو منفّر
Existential Discontent
عدم الرضا الوجودي
Maladaptive
غير تكيفي
Mood Regulation
تنظيم الحالة المزاجية
Retail Therapy
العلاج بالتسوق
Anticipation
توقع
Precipitates
يؤدي إلى
Reinforcing
تعزيز
Irrespective Of
بغض النظر عن
Scarcity Cues
إشارات الندرة
Deliberative Processing
المعالجة المتأنية
Immediate Gratification
الإشباع الفوري
Prudential Judgment
الحكم العقلاني
Digitalization
التحول الرقمي
Algorithmically Curated
مُصمم بواسطة الخوارزميات
Temporal Friction
العوائق الزمنية
Spontaneous Consumption
الاستهلاك العفوي
Repercussions
التداعيات
Indebtedness
الوقوع في الديون
Demographics
الفئات السكانية
Overconsumption
الإفراط في الاستهلاك
Mitigating
الحد من
Systemic Intervention
التدخل المؤسسي
Mandatory Moratorium
فترة انتظار إلزامية
Deliberative Control
التحكم القائم على التفكير المتأني
Vulnerable Populations
الفئات الأكثر عرضة للتأثر
Cultivable Competency
مهارة يمكن تنميتها
Indispensable
لا غنى عنها
Engineered
صُممت أو هُندست
Spontaneity
العفوية