Compulsive Buying Scale

What it measures

A clinical screener for compulsive buying — a consumer disorder characterised by chronic, repetitive purchasing as a response to negative events or feelings, despite harmful consequences. The CBS uses a regression-based scoring formula to classify respondents as compulsive buyers vs. non-compulsive buyers.

Representative items

• If I have any money left at the end of the pay period, I just have to spend it.
• I feel others would be horrified if they knew of my spending habits.
• I have bought things even though I couldn't afford them.
• I wrote a check when I knew I didn't have enough money in the bank to cover it.
• I bought something to make myself feel better.

Citation

Faber, R.J., & O'Guinn, T.C. (1992). A clinical screener for compulsive buying. Journal of Consumer Research, 19(3), 459–469.