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Video: Hoarding Researcher Discusses 'The Meaning Of Things'

On Friday, BU Today spoke with Gail Steketee, a professor and dean of the university's School of Social Work, who has been studying hoarding for 15 years. Prof. Steketee's most recent book on the subject, written with Randy Frost, a professor of psychology at Smith College, is "Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things."

In the interview, the professor explained why people hoard:

"People hoard for the same reasons that everyone saves their stuff, just more so," Prof. Steketee said. "They save for sentimental reasons, to avoid being wasteful, for fear they might need it one day, and to have control over their own things. But their identity often becomes tied up in their stuff, and so parting with even a scribbled-on piece of paper can be excruciating."

BU Today also produced a video featuring Prof. Steketee:

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