Diderot Effect.

The Diderot Effect is a psychological and behavioral phenomenon where obtaining a new possession often creates a spiral of consumption that leads you to acquire more new possessions. As a result, we end up buying things that our previous selves never needed to feel fulfilled.

The Diderot Effect reminds us that things don’t just fill space — they make claims on your identity. The question worth asking before any significant purchase is not just “Can I afford this?” but “Who does this tell me I am — and am I willing to rebuild everything else around that answer?”