A Theoretical Investigation on the Effects of Childhood Trauma on Consumers
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20006622Anahtar Kelimeler:
Çocukluk travması, olumsuz çocukluk deneyimleri, tüketici, zorlayıcı satın almaÖzet
Childhood trauma is defined as distressing and difficult-to-cope-with experiences that leave long-term negative effects on individuals’ lives. Experiences encountered during childhood, which constitutes the foundation of developmental processes, may leave lasting impacts throughout the lifespan, whether positive or negative. These effects often emerge in adulthood in the form of maladaptive psychological, emotional, and behavioral patterns. This study adopts a comprehensive literature review approach to examine the potential effects of traumatic experiences during childhood on adult consumption behaviors, attitudes, and decision-making styles. Drawing on interdisciplinary research in psychology, psychiatry, and consumer behavior, this study provides a synthesis of the relationships between childhood trauma and various consumer tendencies, including compulsive and impulsive buying, materialism, perfectionism, attitudes toward money, and brand loyalty. The reviewed literature indicates that early adverse experiences can shape emotion regulation, attachment patterns, coping mechanisms, and self-perception, which in turn influence adult consumption behaviors and decision-making processes. Furthermore, childhood trauma appears to be associated with maladaptive consumption patterns, such as addictive or compensatory buying, heightened impulsivity, and altered consumer–brand relationships, often mediated by mechanisms such as emotion dysregulation, dissociation, and social comparison.
By integrating findings from diverse research domains, this study aims to contribute to the theoretical development of consumer psychology and to highlight childhood trauma as an important yet underexplored determinant of consumer behavior. The findings also emphasize the need for future empirical research to examine these relationships more directly and aim to support the development of psychosocially informed preventive and intervention-oriented strategies designed to mitigate the long-term behavioral consequences of adverse childhood experiences
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