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Collecting: An urge that’s hard to resist

收藏：一种难以抗拒的冲动

Around 33 to 40 percent of the American population collects one thing or another. Yet little is known about the mysterious factors that motivate these often-passionate individuals to collect.

大约33%到40%的美国人收集这样或那样的东西。然而，对于促使这些往往充满激情的人收集的神秘因素，人们却知之甚少。

As a collector myself, and a physician board-certified in neurology and psychiatry trained to ask questions, I wondered too. This curiosity led me into a journey of exploration that guided me to answers which helped explain not only my behavior but also that of others.

作为一名收藏者，以及一名经医生委员会认证的神经学和精神病学医生，一直受训如何发问，我也很想知道答案。这种好奇心引领我踏上了一段探索之旅，引导我找到了答案，这些答案不仅有助于解释我的行为，还有助于解释其他人的行为。

My research led me to believe that not only can there be an instigating factor or factors for collectors to collect at all, or, in a particular area. There also are reinforcing contributors that make the activity worthwhile and pleasurable for which we now know the scientific basis. For example, the rarity of a piece can not only make it valuable, but it can also stimulate certain parts of the brain that register this uniqueness. The scientific research relating to this phenomenon is called the Oddball experiment. It registers activity in the brain using a functional magnetic resonance machine when the participant sees a string of ordinary objects punctuated by the extraordinary. Specific areas of their brains light up when the unusual are presented. This may be why we seek the unique when we collect. It stimulates our brains in areas that connect to our pleasure center. This may also have an evolutionary benefit. We explore the new until we determine whether it is a benefit to us or not.

我的研究让我相信，收藏者不仅会因为一个或多个因素促使其去广发收藏，或者在某个特定领域收藏。还有一些强化因素使收藏本身变得富有价值、令人愉悦，我们现在知道这是有科学依据的。例如，一个物件的稀有性不仅可以使其具有价值，还可以刺激大脑中记录这种独特性的某些部分。与这一现象相关的科学研究被称为奇异范式实验。当参与者看到一串普通物体被非同寻常的物体打断时，它会使用功能性磁共振机器记录大脑中的活动。当出现异常时，他们大脑的特定区域会亮起来。这可能就是我们在收藏时寻求独特之物的原因。它刺激我们大脑中与快乐中心相连的区域。这也可能有进化的好处。我们探索新事物，直到我们确定它是否对我们有益。

Another contributing motive for some collectors is pride in acquiring exquisite objects. This is heightened by gathering like items together for the first time. During the search, excitement is further sharpened by identifying a rare piece that sets us apart from our peers and may provide recognition and admiration by associates.

一些收藏者的另一个动机是对获得精美物品感到自豪。首次将同类物品聚集在一起会加剧这种情况。在搜寻过程中，发现一个罕见的物件，使我们与同行区别开来，并可能得到伙伴的认可和钦佩，这进一步增强了我们的兴奋。

Other collectors, aside from the rareness of the piece, want to acquire it at a modest price. That is their joy and gives them pride in being so astute. It’s the possession for comparatively little money that excites them.

除了这个物件的稀有性，其他收藏者希望以适中的价格获得它。这是他们的快乐，也让他们为自己如此精明而感到自豪。让他们兴奋的是花费相对较少的钱拥有了这个物件。

Then, there are collectors who feel a sense of history when they assemble precious items. By owning antiquities, they feel closer to the past or perhaps even dead ancestors, important people, or circumstances of long ago. This is the reverse of feeling a sense of history in looking toward the future. This collector may hope to build a legacy by passing on special objects to future generations.

然后，有些收藏者在收藏珍贵物品时会感受到一种历史感。通过拥有古董，他们感觉更接近过去，甚至可能更接近死去的祖先、重要人物或很久以前的环境。这与展望未来时的历史感相反。这位收藏者可能希望通过将特殊物品传给后代来建立传承。

Other collectors find that the collecting process provides intellectual satisfaction. The gathering of pieces in a specific area requires discipline, knowledge, and an eye for the unusual or particularly beautiful. This is the case for me, I believe, because I have always been academically minded, which is why I chose to go to medical school and then into what is known as a rigorous discipline, neurology.

其他收藏者发现，收藏过程提供了知识上的满足感。在特定领域收藏物件需要自律、知识和对不寻常或特别美丽的事物的眼光。我相信，对我来说就是这样，因为我一直有学术头脑，这就是为什么我选择去医学院，然后进入所谓的严谨的学科——神经学。

Collectors also gather what they consider treasures to enhance their network of friends; in other words, they have a social motivation for collecting. Perhaps their love of objects came first; then, somewhere along the line, they realize there are people like themselves. They may find them independently or join organizations for like-minded people. Friendships forged through these vehicles no doubt expand social lives.

收藏者们还收藏他们认为是珍宝的东西，以加强他们的朋友网络；换句话说，他们有收藏的社会动机。也许他们对物品的热爱是第一位的；然后，在某个地方，他们意识到有像他们这样的人。他们可能会亲自找到他们，或者加入志同道合的人的组织。通过这些渠道建立的友谊无疑扩大了社交圈。

The enjoyment of arranging and rearranging a collection can be the motivation for other collectors. Though this may serve as a means of control, it could also simply be the demonstration of organizational skills applied to collecting as taste and knowledge accumulate.

整理和重新安放收藏品的乐趣可以成为其他收藏者的动力。虽然这可能是一种控制手段，但它也可能只是随着品味和知识的积累而应用于收藏的组织技能的展示。

Last, and certainly not least, is that all reinforcers to collect involve anticipation. In its nascent stage, yet fulfilled, the collector’s craving allows her to imagine anything she wants about the desired returns the object will bring. We know that it is in this phase that the pleasure center burns most brightly. Once the prize is obtained, the pleasure center quiets. In other words, the anticipation of the reward is more exciting to our pleasure center than possessing it. This explains, in part, why collecting frequently transcends a mere pastime and often becomes a passion. It gives sufficient pleasure that the participant wants to continue it more and more vigorously.

最后，当然也是最不重要的一点是，所有要收藏的强化刺激都与预期有关。在它的萌芽阶段，收藏者的渴望让她能够想象任何她想要的能够给她带来预期回报的东西。我们知道，正是在这个阶段，快乐中心燃烧得最亮。一旦获得奖品，快乐中心就会安静下来。换句话说，对于我们的快乐中心来说，对奖励的期待比拥有它更令人兴奋。这在一定程度上解释了为什么收藏经常超越了单纯的消遣，经常成为一种激情。参与者希望越来越积极地继续下去，这给了他们足够的快乐。

【Source】www.psychologytoday.com

【Translated by】Spark Liao (廖怀宝)

【Illustration】From Bing