How does shopping

make you feel?

ESL Brains
Let’s get started
with a warm-up

ESL Brains
Complete the sentence with the first idea that comes to mind. Explain and
compare your answers with your partner’s.

● Shopping makes me (feel)…

ESL Brains 3
Explain the differences between the phrases or illustrate them with examples.

● impulsive purchasing vs
compulsive purchasing

● instant gratification vs
delayed gratification

● rational decision-making vs
emotion-driven choice

ESL Brains 4
Let’s check the answers.

impulsive purchasing involves spontaneous, unplanned

● impulsive purchasing vs
buying, whereas compulsive purchasing is repetitive,
compulsive purchasing
ritualistic buying behaviour, often with a loss of control

instant gratification refers to seeking immediate rewards or

● instant gratification vs pleasures, often at the expense of long-term benefits,
delayed gratification whereas delayed gratification involves choosing more
significant, delayed rewards in the future

● rational decision-making vs rational decision-making is based on logical reasoning and

emotion-driven choice careful consideration of facts and consequences, whereas
an emotion-driven choice is influenced primarily by feelings
and subjective experiences

ESL Brains 5
Look at other possible answers and explain why shopping might make people feel
these things.

have mixed feelings FOMO instant gratification

boosted in confidence socially connected

ESL Brains 6
Do you agree?

ESL Brains
Think of one argument for and one against each statement. Say which of the
statements you agree with.

● Most people feel they need more things.

● Shopping online at the tap of a button is more of a curse than a blessing.

● Compulsive buying disorder should be treated more seriously.

ESL Brains 8
In a moment, you’ll watch a video about:

hacks to control shopping

addiction
But first…
ESL Brains
Read the quotes from the video and discuss what they might mean or be about.

A. ‘The human brain is not a thinking machine that feels, it's a feeling
machine that thinks.’

B. ‘Buying toilet paper was a simple coping mechanism for people to

deal with their stress.’

C. ‘We think Amazon is in the retail business, but in reality, Amazon is in

the instant gratification business.’

D. ‘There's a disconnect between our present self that gets to enjoy the
new item and our future self who has to deal with the consequences.’

E. ‘The important thing is you create some barriers between your desire
to shop and shopping.’

ESL Brains 10
Watch the video and compare your ideas about the quotes.
A. ‘The human brain is not a thinking machine
that feels, it's a feeling machine that thinks.’

B. ‘Buying toilet paper was a simple coping

mechanism for people to deal with their stress.’

C. ‘We think Amazon is in the retail business, but

in reality, Amazon is in the instant gratification
business.’

D. ‘There's a disconnect between our present self

that gets to enjoy the new item and our future
self who has to deal with the consequences.’

E. ‘The important thing is you create some

barriers between your desire to shop and
shopping.’

ESL Brains 11
Let’s check the answers.
A. ‘The human brain is not a thinking machine
that feels, it's a feeling machine that thinks.’
B. ‘Buying toilet paper was a simple coping
mechanism for people to deal with their stress.’
C. ‘We think Amazon is in the retail business, but
in reality, Amazon is in the instant gratification
business.’
D. ‘There's a disconnect between our present self
that gets to enjoy the new item and our future
self who has to deal with the consequences.’
E. ‘The important thing is you create some
barriers between your desire to shop and
shopping.’
ESL Brains
We often make irrational decisions driven by emotions.
It’s about the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when
many people stockpiled toilet paper, not out of
necessity, but to handle stress.
With Amazon, shopping is available 24/7, which means
people who seek instant gratification can get it in a few
clicks.
It’s about people who use credit cards and take loans to
buy things.
It means people should designate a day in the week to
shop and allow themselves some time between the
moment they think of buying something and the time
they buy it. 12
Let’s talk!

ESL Brains
part 1/2

Discuss the questions.

● How common do you think shopping addiction is?

coping mechanism:
● Can shopping be an effective coping mechanism
a temporary strategy used to
and not lead to addiction?
manage stress or emotions

● What does the term ‘retail therapy’ mean to you? Is this concept
popular in your culture?

● Does stress affect your decision-making process when shopping?

● Do you notice a difference in your spending habits when using

cash compared to credit cards? What factors contribute to this
distinction?

ESL Brains 14
part 2/2

Discuss the questions.

● What do you think about the strategies suggested for resisting

overspending? What strategies would you add to the list?

○ doing physical exercise

○ creating barriers and designating special days for shopping

○ seeking social support

● Do you anticipate that shopping habits will change in the future? If so,
how?

● How can someone recognize they have a shopping addiction problem?

ESL Brains 15
Let’s think!

ESL Brains
Read the statements below and say if they might be the signs of shopping
addiction. Explain your opinion.

● I allow myself occasional splurges for enjoyment.

● I sometimes have shopping credit card debts that I plan to pay off in

the following months.

● I sometimes lie to my partner/parents about my shopping expenses.

● I never skip discounts and sales on days like Black Friday.

● I go shopping when I want to lift my spirits. Buying things has this

effect on me.

● I make impulsive purchases, but I try to keep track of them.

ESL Brains 17
Let’s discuss!

ESL Brains
Look at the chart and discuss the questions.

● Does the pattern or its parts look feeling bad

familiar?

● What can someone do to break this

pattern? Think of specific steps they seeking instant gratification
can take.

● Can you think of other things people do

going on social media
when seeking instant gratification?
How can they change their behaviour to
go for delayed gratification instead?
seeing an ad and making a purchase

ESL Brains 19
THANKS!

ESL Brains