2 minute read
Inside the Head of a Collector
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FORCES AT PLAY, BY SHIRLEY M. MUELLER, MD
REVIEWED BY STEVEN CHAN
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DO YOU COLLECT; ART, COINS, SILVER, CHINA, OR FURNITURE? It’s incredible how many people participate in the consumption of items that others lack any affinity. Surprisingly, almost half the US population—an astonishing 40 percent—according to Danzinger 2002, “…engage in some form of collecting activity.”
Addressing what some view as peculiar behavior, research professor Russell Belk writes, “Collecting is the process of actively, selectively, and passionately acquiring and possessing things removed from ordinary use and perceived as part of a set of nonidentical objects and experiences.”
In the final analysis, humankind enjoys searching, discovering, accumulating, and ultimately admiring their treasures. When the time comes for an individual’s legacy to be passed forward, remarkably, the reward of their efforts will be acknowledged and they become the provenance of the collection. It is at this time and place; the collector will be celebrated as a patron, one who took on the responsibility of preserving our historical artifacts for future generations to admire and enjoy.
In an attempt to explain the interaction between real-world experiences, scientific data, neuro-physical chemical interactions, and neuropsychological reactions, Shirley M. Mueller, a medical doctor, investment adviser, and collector, funnels science and research, into a steady stream of understanding how the phenomenon of collecting is manifested deep in our existence. Through her insight, the author touches the psyche of professional and semi-professional collectors, as no one has done before. The alliance formed by Dr. Mueller and her readers is remarkable. Dr. Mueller explains neuroscience, shares her understanding of why we follow this path, then takes us on a journey to discover new personal knowledge. In her book Inside the Head of a Collector—Neuropsychological Forces at Play, Dr. Mueller explains why populations around the world are drawn to acquiring antiquities, while alluding that we may not have as much voluntary control over our actions as we believe—or would like to have.
From the very beginning of the work, when Dr. Mueller explains the social and emotional benefits some experience through the act of collecting, she articulates, “Collecting isn’t a job. Collecting isn’t a hobby. It’s better. It’s a passion.” With such insight, readers will find themselves hard-pressed not to complete the entire book in one sitting—it’s that good!
The book is neatly divided into three parts, and while it may appear to be a formidable read, the author skillfully leads collectors through provocative sections titled; “Pleasure and
