compulsive

This term carries a heavy psychological weight, suggesting a loss of agency. It describes a loop of behavior where the person feels a mounting tension that can only be relieved by performing the action, regardless of the negative consequences. It is far more intense than a simple habit or a strong preference. In a social context, it often leans toward the pathological or the obsessive. While someone might be a passionate shopper, a compulsive shopper feels a desperate, internal necessity to buy things, often leading to financial ruin or secrecy. It evokes a feeling of being driven by an internal engine that cannot be switched off.