Shopping a Sale Gives You the Same Feeling as Getting High
For some of us, the signs shouting 50% off, one-day-only sale and clearance are not so different from the call for other types of addictions: the feeling of winning at shopping a sale is not unlike the addiction to alcohol, drugs or even food. Even the casual shopper finds it challenging to exercise self-control at the Double 11 Festival.
In fact, we typically decide on a purchase in a split second, without much thought. We don’t employ the usual process of weighing the outcome when it comes to the temptation (诱惑) of sale tags; instead, most of our decisions to buy something are made instantly.
The instant we decide to buy, we feel good and there’s a rush of positive emotion. But afterwards, similar to what happens to a drug addict or alcoholic, strong feelings of guilt can last for quite a long time. But we still need more. We have to have more. We need the high again. Then we go back for more.
If it all sounds so out of our control, it might not be. The key is to understand exactly what’s happening as the desire sets in.
The excitement of the hunt
Entering a favorite store or logging onto our favorite shopping website is the catalyst (催化剂). This very action tells our body that it should start producing greater amounts of chemicals in the brain that make it feel good to keep shopping and searching for pleasure and rewards.
Most of the time, those impulses (冲动) are caused by our previous experiences with specific brands or spotting items already on our wish list. Most of us are not actually addicted to the things we buy. Rather, it’s the process of shopping that can become a tough habit to break in the same sort of way it’s hard to break free from eating disorders, drugs and drinking.
Working against our inner desires
There is still some hope. For starters, force ourselves to avoid the bargain (just like we’d avoid a pub if we no longer drink). And, rather than checking price tags first, we may look at the price tag after we are interested in the product to reduce “bargain craze”. Online, we are not supposed to click through to the sale section first. We have to calm ourselves down and force us to be logical about the whole thing.
Never overestimate(高估) how much pleasure we get once we find the thing that we buy. And this is something to bear in mind when rushing to the sales this shopping season.
Shopping a
Sale
Gives You the Same Feeling as Getting High
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Introduction
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·Things on sale are (1) _ to some people, whose addiction is (2)_ to that of alcohol, drugs or even food.
·It is a (2) _ to control oneself at a shopping festival, even for casual shoppers.
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Reasons
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·People typically (4)_ to make a decision to buy things (5)__ weighing possible results.
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People will have a sense of satisfaction (6)__ they buy things.
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People may feel (7)__ for quite a while, but can’t fight the temptation.
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Analysis
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When people are ready to buy things, the greater amounts of chemicals
produced in the brain account for the pleasure of shopping.
· (8)___ of being addicted to things bought, the majority of people
buy things out of (3) __.
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Suggestions
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Stay away from the bargain.
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Don’t check price tags unless the product interests you.
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(10)__ giving priority(优先) to shopping web pages when surfing the Internet.
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Stay calm and logical when shopping.
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Never overestimate the pleasure we get from shopping.
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