Neophilia or attraction to the new

Neophilia refers to an attraction or trend and is evidenced by a strong need that some people show for owning the newest products on the market, mainly from the technological field, but also from the gastronomic or fashion fields. However, it does not necessarily imply a disorder or pathology in the person.

• The need or desire to have the latest in the market is something that tends to appear more in adult males, with purchasing power and high leadership.
• It can become a source of unhappiness, mortgaging its own well-being based on the constant acquisition of new material products.
• This behavior can become a problem when you become obsessive and lose control.

This attraction for the latest model of sneakers, for the most innovative smartphone on the market or for the food or drink that has recently been put on sale becomes a “modus vivendi” of these people, who in turn stop using certain products, not because they no longer work, but because newer versions of them have appeared.

Male, adult, leader and with purchasing power

Statistically, this trend occurs mainly in men of a medium-high economic level and an age between 20 and 40 years, who generally show a critical spirit and advanced knowledge of the products they purchase, with extreme attention in the last market news. Usually, they are people with high leadership and a great capacity for social influence, in addition to actively seeking prestige and social status. Likewise, it seems that owning or making use of such belongings helps them to create their identity and, in turn, to differentiate themselves from others because of what they possess.

Engines of the consumer society

These people pursue and enjoy the feeling that comes from owning the newest thing and, after acquiring it, they tend to plan and wish, in a short period of time, for the next one, with which they seem never to be satisfied and need constant change. . They are even capable of traveling to other countries or making long queues and waiting in order to get the object they intend to acquire. They are, therefore, very sensitive to marketing campaigns, fashions and trends, and tend to have a hard time using products that they consider obsolete.

Neophilia is one of the engines of consumer society and, at the same time, it can become a source of unhappiness, mortgaging one's own well-being based on the constant acquisition of new material products. People with this function can come to believe that happiness is associated with material objects, with consumption, without suspecting that it is rather a state of inner plenitude. Thus, they can confuse ephemeral moments of joy, illusion or satisfaction with authentic happiness.

When is it a problem?

This behavior can become a problem when, for example, the expenses that a person makes exceed their economic possibilities, when there is a need for validation by others in the fact of owning such products or, simply, when the attention to The latest market news becomes an obsession, affecting other areas of daily life or losing control over one's own behavior.

Remember that…

If you have any questions about Neofialia or any other questions related to psychological issues, they can be found at the psychological counseling telephone service.