Abstract

We propose that parental permissiveness (low demandingness, high warmth) predicts adults’ tendency to habitually neglect physical possessions that do not serve a currently active goal or desire, a tendency we refer to as non-use neglect. We distinguish non-use neglect from other constructs (e.g., materialism, SES, frugality, environmental concern), and show that this pattern stemming from permissive parenting predicts a number of consequential behaviors for adult consumers, including a tendency for everyday possessions to be less accessible when it comes time to use them, an increased desire to upgrade from one’s current possessions, and increased propensity to dispose of products that have only been partially consumed.