Free Custom «An Authoritative Source of Information» Essay Paper

The Author of the above article, Marcia G. Yerman is an authoritative source of information regarding shopping addiction because the information compiled in the article is written in simple language making it easier for readers to understand. The author is an NYC Writer who focuses on women’s issues and is the co-founder of CultureID. This makes the author a reliable source of obtaining information.

Summary of the article and its main points

This article on “compulsive shopping” states how majority of women have become “Shopaholics” or rather “Oniomania” through the many shopping forays. The article uses Cartella as a case study to explain the whole process of shopping addiction and the causes of the vice. It is also through the article that the readers are able to realize how the shopping addiction is used in the provision of the respite form of void. Shopping addiction is used in catering for the needs of stringent expectations of fashion crowd and romantic relationships. It is from this article that it can be revealed how people who are addicted to shopping feel insecure when they can’t shop. There is an urge which makes them to become addicted to shopping (Yerman, 2012, p. 3).   

Further more, symptoms of Oniomania are well proven in the Case study as reflected in the behavior of Cartella. Among the symptoms of Oniomania include spending unthinkable amounts of money than expected, holding more than one job in order to cater for overwhelming bills, being a former alcoholic or addict among others. The article also offers readers supportive choices on how to avoid being “Shopaholics”.

Significant quotes from the Article

One of the most significant quotes from Yerman’s article is “…when your life has become unmanageable and out of control…that’s the mark of an addiction…” This article is relevant in understanding the topic of shopping addiction because it describes how one can realize if he or she is addicted. A question arises on how broad the definition of addiction goes leaving the reader to be become complicated in thought. However, the article is vital in arguing out the problem of shopping addiction. Another significant quote from the article is “…her recovery process was about being more conscious and mindful in her life…”.This article is significant because it explains how an individual should avoid the problem of shopping addiction.  In general, the article is very useful towards the argument of shopping addiction.

Why the author is an authoritative source of information

The author, Heather Hatfield, is an authoritative source of information because being a WebMD feature, the author is a good position to have relevant information regarding the problem of shopping addiction.

Summary of the article and its main points

The articles main point is to explain how shopping has become one of America’s favorite past times. The shopping sprees, for most individuals as explained in the article, are an implication for new clothing or presents for friends. However, for some people, shopping instead is a destructive addiction known to turn people’s lives into financial disasters. It is also through the article that the reader can be able to know the definition of compulsive spending and shopping as being excessive, inappropriate and actions that are out of control. Compulsive shopping and spending, the article explains, has to do with a lack of control and impulsiveness on individual’s impulses just like in other addictions.

The main claim or point of the article is that shopping has been embedded in American culture and has been known to wreak havoc on an individual’s family, finances and general life. This is evident from the 10%-15% (percent) of individuals who are known to possibly have a genetic predisposition towards an addictive behavior (Hatfield, 2012, p. 2).

Significant quotes from the Article

One of the most significant quotes from the above article is “…there are certainly a lot of commodities among Shopaholics and other addicts…while alcoholics will hide their bottles, Shopaholics will hide their purchases”. This article is important because it explains the similarities between alcoholics and the Shopaholics which are very genuine. It is very true that such groups of people are known to hide their problems. The quotes helped me in understanding the similarities between the Shopaholics and the alcoholics which I previously never knew. Another quote from the article is “…When a person with a shopping addiction goes shopping, they often compulsively buy…they go for one pair of shoes and come out with 10…” This quote is relevant to the topic of shopping addiction because it describes how people end up buying what they did not plan for due to being addicted to shopping. In general, this article is helpful in further understanding the problem of shopping addiction. The article is however complicated because it does not put forth ways of avoid shopping addiction in a language the readers can easily comprehend. 

Why the authors’ article is an authoritative source of information

Given the fact that the authors of this article are University professionals, this makes the article to be an authoritative source of information regarding the topic of shopping addiction. The article is well researched thus making it a relevant source of information.

Summary of the article and its main points

This article seeks to express to the readers how compulsive buying has now taken a serious perspective in the society to the extend of being addressed and recognized by clinical practice and furthermore included in the Diagnostic Manual for psychiatric Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM). The article’s main point is thus seeks to explain the condition of Oniomania and its related information. In addition, this article seeks to report on the authors’ current knowledge regarding compulsive buying while still addressing the major factors of its social construction and circumstance.  

The article seeks to distinguish compulsive buying from other vices and seeks to clear the confusion that arises regarding the topic in the literature of consumer behavior. To indicate and further prove the prevalence of compulsive buying, the article presents the reader with the scale development of O’Guinn and Faber (1992) as a standard instrument for measuring both diagnostic and epidemiological evaluation. The core commonalities that are normally prevalent among compulsive buyers are also well explained in the article (Guinn, et al, 2005, p. 10).  

Significant quotes from the Article

One of the significant quotes from the article is “…on average, compulsive buyers report engaging in this behavior 2-3 times a week…binge buying range from once a month to several times a time…(Christenson, et al, 1994)”. This quote is significant because it explains how compulsive buying can become an addiction on individuals. The quote helps the reader to well comprehend how serious compulsive buying can be. Another relevant quote from the article is “…compulsive buyers have also been known to have low esteem…they compare themselves to siblings…” This article is significant to the reader because it presents the symptoms of being a compulsive buyer thus leaving the reader with an option of gauging whether he or she is one. In general, the article is vital in the final argument because it has been well researched.