题目内容
Compulsive(强迫的)shoppers may have a new psychological excuse to blame for their wild shopping. Psychologists at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand are studying the “shop-till-you-drop” habit as a behavioral disorder similar to compulsive eating. Compulsive shoppers frequently buy more than they can afford or more than they need, and it causes them distress(苦恼).
“It becomes a problem when you are out of control,” psychology lecturer Neville Blampied said. “When you are feeling bad and blue, what do you do? Some people eat chocolate cake and ice cream. Some people take the credit card and go out to the shop.” Bank managers understand the problem because they have to deal with people who have to be persuaded to stop using their cards drawing money.
Compulsive shopping was first discovered in 1915, although it was then known as monomania. Few studies have been done on the problem.
An advertisement in a Christchurch paper, calling for people to take part in an experimental treatment program designed by Mr. Wilson, attracted 10 replies. But the problem, said Mr. Wilson, is “clearly not rare”. He thinks that compulsive shopping should be treated with drugs. “As psychologists we are interested in non-drug treatments for behavioral difficulties,” Mr. Wilson said.
Compulsive eaters or shoppers get a kick from their habit. “Both activities provide an immediate kind of kick and you feel a bit better,” he said. “You have long-term problems, but human beings are extremely good at not seeing long-term problems and are very sensitive to short-term benefits,” he said.
The aim of the treatment was to help people find better ways of managing their emotions. The program, consisting of 10 one-hour weekly lessons and two follow-up treatments, is loosely based on teaching stress management.
“You often have to start to get people to correctly recognize their emotions. Not being able to know what you really feel weakens your ability to solve the problems connected with what’s making you feel that way,” Mr. Wilson said.
【小题1】The compulsive shoppers will go shopping when ______.
A.they have lots of money | B.they are taking drugs |
C.they are feeling sad | D.they win a prize |
A.compulsive eating | B.a new psychological excuse |
C.the study done by Blampied | D.the behavior of wild shopping |
A.Teaching them to manage their money better. |
B.Teaching them to understand their emotions. |
C.Persuading them not to draw money from the bank. |
D.Treating them with right drugs. |
A.feel distressed after their wild shopping |
B.feel better after treatment from psychologists |
C.are better able to deal with stress problems |
D.have a feeling of excitement after shopping |
【小题1】C
【小题2】D
【小题3】B
【小题4】D
解析
People can be addicted to different things— e.g.alcohol, drug, certain foods,or eventelevision.People who have such an addiction are compulsive: they have a very powerfulpsychological need that they feel they must satisfy.According to psychologists, many peopleare compulsive spenders.They feel that they must spend money.This compulsion, like mostothers, is impossible to explain reasonably.For compulsive spenders who buy on credit, chargeaccounts are even more exciting than money.In other words, compulsive spenders feel thatwith credit, they can do anything.Their pleasure in spending large amounts is actually greaterthan the pleasure that they get from the things they buy.
There is even a special psychology of bargain hunting.To save money, of course, mostpeople look for sales, low prices, and discounts.Compulsive bargain hunters,however, oftenbuy things that they don't need just because they are cheap.They want to believe that they arehelping their budgets, but they are really playing an exciting game.When they can buysomething for less than other people, they feel that they are winners.Most people, expertsclaim, have two reasons for their behavior: a good reason for the things that they do and thereal reason.
It is not only scientists, of course, who understand the psychology of spending habits, butalso business people.Stores, companies, and advertisers use psychology to increase business.They consider people's needs for love, power, or influence, their basic values, their beliefs andopinions, and so on in their advertising and sales methods.
Psychologists often use a method called "behavior therapy(疗法)"to help individuals solvetheir personality problems.In the same way, they can help people who feel that they haveproblems with money.
【小题1】According to psychologists, a compulsive spender is one who spends large amounts ofmoney .
A.and takes great pleasure from what he or she buys |
B.in order to satisfy his or her basic needs in life |
C.just to meet his or her strong psychological need |
D.entirely with an irrational eagerness |
A.because they feel satisfied if they spend less money than others |
B.because they like to show off their success in getting things for less money |
C.because they have money problem |
D.because they want to save money to help heir budget |
A.the psychology of money-spending habits |
B.the purchasing habits of compulsive spenders |
C.a special psychology of bargain hunting |
D.the use of the psychology of spending habits in business |
A.are really unreasonable |
B.need special treatment |
C.can't be cured |
D.can never get any help to solve their problems with money |