Richa C. 2026 | BASIS Independent Fremont
- Project Title: Beyond the Myths: Understanding and Dispelling Misconceptions about Object Attachment and Hoarding Disorder
- BASIS Independent Advisor: Ms. Apra
- Internship Location: Remote
- Onsite Mentor: Dr. Lynna Tsou
The goal of my project is to discover common misconceptions people hold about object attachment and hoarding behaviors, and more importantly, to dispel them and provide a more accurate take on these behaviors. Object attachment and hoarding are often misunderstood in society and are frequently judged as plain laziness or irresponsibility. In fact, according to a large public survey by physician Alex Dresden, people are more likely to blame individuals for their hoarding behaviors rather than recognizing them as a mental health condition. This type of misunderstanding can increase stigma and discourage people from seeking support or treatment. To explore this issue, I will conduct a survey that examines what misconceptions people hold about object attachment and hoarding, and whether these opinions differ based on the sex, age, culture, and past personal experience of the participants. This will make it easier to identify where stigma comes from and allow misconceptions to be corrected in more targeted and effective ways. The results will then be analyzed to identify the most common misunderstandings among each category. Based on these findings, my project will include a section that clearly explains and corrects these misconceptions. This way, my project can educate its readers about object attachment and hoarding behaviors. This project aims to promote a more informed and empathetic understanding of object attachment and hoarding behaviors.
