随身英语 Why do people stockpile? 人们为什么要抢购囤货

陈小将

在困难时期恐慌性抢购和囤积食物的现象，你可能听过，甚至见过。但到底是什么导致此现象的发生？本文浅谈人在应对危机时，囤积生活必需品的原因。
词汇：panic buying 抢购，恐慌购买
Have you ever watched one of the many TV shows set during the apocalypse - a dystopian future where life as we know it is over and people are only focussed on survival? If it’s not zombies, it’s viruses or natural disasters. One thing that seems to be a quintessential part of these series is survivors searching for food and resources. Is that why people stockpile food when things go bad?
What is stockpiling? Quite simply it’s when people accumulate a substantial number of goods, for example food or water. According to psychologist Judy Rosenberg, stockpiling perishable goods like eggs and milk is a positive sign that people believe a crisis will be over soon. When people stockpile tinned goods, it can be a sign that people fear that the crisis will endure.
But why do we do it? Consumer psychologist Paul Marsden puts it down to three factors that relate to retail therapy. Firstly, ‘autonomy’ – the idea the people feel the need to be in control. Secondly, ‘relatedness’ – panic shopping helps people to feel connected to the community or other shoppers who are doing the same.
Lastly, ‘competence’ - people want to feel like they are ‘smart shoppers’ and doing the right thing. Sander Van der Lindon, an assistant professor of social psychology at Cambridge University, said that a phenomenon known as ‘fear contagion’ can take hold. People’s decision making is hampered when stressed, so they follow the actions of other people. If they are panic buying, you will too.
So, can you stop people from stockpiling? Well, supermarkets can ration the amount of products consumers purchase, and governments can try to reassure people that there is no need to panic. However, it seems that it goes against our basic psychology to try and stop people from panic buying.
So, the next time a virus, natural disaster or zombie apocalypse starts, remember that panic buying is probably a given, thanks to our need for retail therapy to manage our emotional state.