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Toilet Paper Panic Buying: What’s behind it?
Some Potential Behavioural Science Behind Hoarding Hysteria
Since the novel coronavirus hit our shores earlier this year, we’ve seen peaks and troughs of uncertainty and fear. And yet, there seems to be a strange new barometer of how concerned the public is: How many toilet paper rolls remain on grocery shelves.
Panic buying has caused fistfights, screaming matches, and mass hysteria in the aisles of our local grocers. And in a fascinating twist, the hottest property is not even an item connected to coronavirus symptoms or something that will help us stay healthy.
Toilet paper. Who knew.
And with all the accusations of people being horrible and selfish, I felt the need to chime in with some potential behavioural science-based reasons influencing why panic buying is one of the many odd things happening since we hopped on this Coronacoaster in March of 2020.
1. A TRIGGER MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE ACTION
Have you ever been anxiously waiting for some news, and found yourself doing something random just to pass the time? Like going over the top cleaning your apartment, or suddenly deciding it’s time to clear out your wardrobe?
