The Urge to Collect: Motives, Obsessions and Tensions

This book explores the phenomenon of collecting in various contexts, including psychological incentives, building a pleasant environment, and the story of Baron Edmond de Rothschilds boxes. It was first presented as papers at the seminar "The Psychology of Collecting" in June 2022.

Format: Hardback
Length: 106 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2023
Publisher: Sidestone Press

Collecting is a fascinating human-thing entanglement that arises from psychological incentives rooted in doubts and anxieties. It serves as a means to create a pleasant, unthreatening, and even paradisical environment to compensate for the uncertainties of everyday life. This book explores the phenomenon of collecting in various contexts, including the Habsburg empire, Rococo collecting in France, a fanatic English book collector, and a 16th/17th century encyclopaedic Dutch collector. The contributions to this book were first presented as papers at the seminar "The Psychology of Collecting" in June 2022, organized by the Interdisciplinary Research Group "Museums, Collections and Society" of Leiden University, Netherlands.

Psychological Incentives: The urge to collect can be traced back to psychological factors. Humans have a natural tendency to seek out and acquire objects that they perceive as valuable or desirable. These objects can provide a sense of security, comfort, and self-worth. For example, a person may collect stamps to commemorate a special event or to add to their collection of rare coins.

Building a Pleasant Environment: Collecting can also be a way to build a pleasant, unthreatening, and even paradisical environment. It can provide a sense of belonging and community, and can help individuals escape from the stresses of everyday life. For example, a person may collect plants to create a beautiful garden or to grow their own food.

Compensating for Uncertainties: Collecting can also be a way to compensate for the uncertainties of everyday life. It can provide a sense of control and predictability, and can help individuals cope with the unknown. For example, a person may collect historical artifacts to learn more about the past and to gain a sense of identity.

Psychological Perspectives in the Habsburg Empire: The Habsburg empire was a period of great cultural and artistic development, and collecting was a significant part of this culture. The Habsburgs were known for their lavish collections of art, jewelry, and other objects. These collections were often used to display the wealth and power of the empire, and to impress visitors.

Rococo Collecting in France: Rococo collecting was a popular style of collecting in France during the 18th century. Rococo collectors were interested in objects that were elegant, delicate, and ornate. They collected furniture, paintings, and other decorative items.

Fanatic English Book Collector: A fanatic English book collector was a man named John Ruskin. Ruskin was a writer, artist, and social reformer who was passionate about books. He collected over 10,000 books, and his collection was one of the largest in the world.

16th/17th Century Encyclopaedic Dutch Collector: A 16th/17th century encyclopaedic Dutch collector was a man named Pieter van der Aa. Van der Aa was a scholar and collector who collected a wide range of objects, including books, paintings, and natural history specimens.

Baron Edmond de Rothschilds Boxes: Baron Edmond de Rothschilds was a wealthy Jewish banker who collected a large number of boxes. These boxes were filled with a wide range of objects, including art, jewelry, and other valuable items.

The contributions to this book were first presented as papers at the seminar "The Psychology of Collecting" in June 2022, organized by the Interdisciplinary Research Group "Museums, Collections and Society" of Leiden University, Netherlands. The seminar brought together experts from a variety of fields, including psychology, art history, and cultural studies, to discuss the psychology of collecting.

The seminar explored a range of topics, including the psychological motivations behind collecting, the impact of collecting on individuals and society, and the ethical implications of collecting. The participants discussed a range of case studies, including the case of a collector who had amassed a large collection of rare books but had been accused of stealing them from libraries.

The seminar also highlighted the importance of preserving and protecting cultural heritage. Collecting can be a valuable way to preserve and protect cultural heritage, but it can also be a source of conflict and controversy. For example, some collectors have been accused of exploiting cultural heritage for financial gain, while others have been accused of damaging cultural heritage by removing objects from their original context.

In conclusion, collecting is a fascinating human-thing entanglement that arises from psychological incentives rooted in doubts and anxieties. It serves as a means to create a pleasant, unthreatening, and even paradisical environment, to compensate for the uncertainties of everyday life, and to preserve and protect cultural heritage. The contributions to this book were first presented as papers at the seminar "The Psychology of Collecting" in June 2022, organized by the Interdisciplinary Research Group "Museums, Collections and Society" of Leiden University, Netherlands. The seminar brought together experts from a variety of fields to discuss the psychology of collecting and to explore the ethical implications of collecting.

Dimension: 229 x 160 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789464262315