Abstract
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between hoarding and animism, focusing on the types of stored objects. Previous studies have determined that one of the reasons why people hoard their belongings is their belief in animism, but the differences depending on the types of items being stored remain unknown. In this study, we asked 85 people to answer the Animism Scale for Adults to determine the relationship the extent of their belief in animism and how much they hoard about 17 types of items. The results revealed that objects given by others (e.g., letters), objects that reflect the existence and memories of oneself and others (e.g., photos), and objects in the shape of people or animals (e.g., dolls) are positively correlated with animism. We discuss the need to understand hoarding, which is regarded as a negative act, from the perspective of interpersonal relationships.
