Defining Motivations to Collect: How similar are men’s and women’s collecting behavior?

Collecting is a widespread human behavior, yet quantitative research on the motivations behind it remains limited and the collecting literature has perpetuated theories that women are less inclined to collect than men. Exploratory studies have identified various potential motivations for collecting; however, further statistical analysis is needed to determine whether underlying patterns exist across individuals. Using data from a prior study at Tilburg University (N = 1,492), we conducted an exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical regression analysis to identify thematic structures within collecting motivations. We hypothesize that men and women will exhibit similar patterns in their motivations to collect. The analysis revealed four key motivational factors—identity definition, purpose, communal esteem, and experience preservation—none of which showed gender differences in their structural relationships to each other, although some significant differences emerged in mean levels of rated importance. gender differences in their. These findings challenge persistent gender stereotypes in the collecting literature. Qualitative interviews with experienced collectors enriched the interpretation of the quantitative results, illustrating how these motivations manifest in lived experiences. By examining these dynamics, this study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the psychological and cultural factors that drive collecting.