Introduction

Abstract

This introductory chapter traces the history of hoarding research in Austria, which began with the initiative of those affected to raise awareness and establish a support group. The unusual onset of hoarding research, triggered by patients rather than professionals, is also reflected in the current research state. Clinicians and researchers across the world grapple with terminology and definition issues as they are faced with the rise of a new mental illness. This chapter sheds light on the relatively new phenomenon and its development by presenting different perspectives on the relevant social and cultural factors. Specifically, the significance of material possessions in modern-day society and their role in creating a sense of security are highlighted. Several interconnections of society and hoarding are revealed, whereas a particular emphasis is placed on the connection between widespread consumer culture and hoarding symptomatology. A review of these aspects demonstrates the intrinsic difficulty related to the definition of hoarding disorder and, at the same time, discloses a conspicuous linkage between consumption and possession, whose symbolic value proves especially insightful.