ABSTRACT

Compulsive Hoarding is a mental disorder marked by an obsessive need to acquire and keep things, even if the items are worthless, hazardous, or unsanitary. Hoarders is a reality television show chronicling the lives of individuals who suffer from hoarding. This program first aired on the Arts and Entertainment (A&E) channel on 17 August 2009 and was the most watched season premiere in A&E's history with 2.5 million viewers. This chapter explores the messages found within the sixth episode of the second season that aired on 14 January 2010. After a 60-second introduction showing upcoming moments of the episode the above quote appears in white against a black screen. Then a second text appears: 'More than 3 million peoples are compulsive hoarders. These are two of their stories.' Even if a viewer has never seen the program they have now been told what 'Compulsive Hoarding' is: 'an obsessive need to acquire and keep things, even if the items are worthless'.