Recent Purchase Envy: The Diderot Effect, Explained - Learn Why Your New Acquisition Makes Other Possessions Seem Dull in Comparison
Understanding the Diderot Effect: A Psychological Trigger for Redecorating and Clutter
The Diderot effect, named after the 18th-century philosopher Denis Diderot, is a psychological phenomenon that can influence our desire to redecorate and accumulate clutter. According to senior psychotherapist Daren Banarsë, this effect describes how one new purchase can trigger a series of additional buying, making our existing decor feel less satisfying and prompting more redecorating or additions to align with the new item.
The Diderot effect works by activating three core psychological drives: the need for visual and emotional harmony, the connection of possessions to one's identity, and the comparison to others and internal standards. This psychological trigger can cause emotional discomfort and a growing desire to fix everything around a new purchase.
The symptoms of the Diderot effect can be emotional, such as feeling dissatisfied with possessions, or behavioral, like an urge to make things match or feel cohesive. Over time, this cycle contributes to accumulating clutter as more belongings are purchased to maintain a perceived sense of coherence in design.
To combat the Diderot effect, Daren suggests taking a moment to check in with your body and see what sensations are present before making a purchase. He also recommends drawing up a decluttering schedule that caters to your space for a gradual decluttering process. Additionally, employing the 'one in, one out' rule or a 'one in, no change for 30 days' policy can help break the reactive cycle.
The aim is to reclaim your decision-making power from the endless cycle of wanting more, enabling you to declutter from a place of clarity. True decluttering means removing items because they genuinely don't serve your life, not just because they don't match a new aesthetic vision.
There are several resources available to help you on your decluttering journey. For instance, "Mind Over Clutter" by Nicola Lewis is a paperback book that helps readers learn how to get beyond the emotional blocks of decluttering and into a healthier headspace and home. "Sort Your Life Out" is a hardcover book that dives into a three-step program to turn your cluttered home around for the better. "Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston is a paperback book that brings together the principles of Feng Shui and the basics of decluttering for a tidy and harmonious home.
In summary, the Diderot effect is a psychological trigger that can lead to redecorating and clutter accumulation. By understanding this effect and implementing strategies like mindfulness, scheduling, and rule-setting, you can break the cycle and create a more peaceful, clutter-free living space.
