Why You Can’t Part with Those Old DIY Projects
Whether it’s a toy you built from Legos, a masterpiece you made in 2nd grade, a piece of décor or furniture you crafted by hand or a Do-It-Yourself project, you just won’t get rid of it. In fact, you can’t. You’re emotionally attached. That is, psychologically attached.
The “IKEA Effect,” as described in a 2011 study from Harvard Business School, linked here, suggests when our labor results in a successful completion of a task, we tend to value the fruits of our labor more than if the task was not completed.
I for one have never been to IKEA, I know, shocking right? But I certainly have my fair share of projects and creations that I simply cannot part with.
Doing things yourself takes a lot work, and when we take pride in what we have created it creates a bond within ourselves to the fruits of our labor.
When we fail at producing something, we do not value that thing.
But, we tend to overvalue self-made products that are successfully completed and therefore bring us joy.
We rank ourselves as professional as an artisan.
For these reasons, you and I hoard the creations of our youths.
I’m sure you have those creations in a box somewhere in your closet or attic at your parents house. Never again to see the light of day, but still there, taking up space.
Why can’t you just throw it out?
With the IKEA Effect “It has sentimental value” translates to an irrational love of your labor.
“If it no longer has a purpose, get rid of it” they say. But you just can’t part with those items you built. You just can’t.
Your success does not belong in the garbage. You cannot trash the fruits of your labor.
This is because of our human need to control our external environment. Our need to affect and control objects to our own desires.
When we create something we are proud of, we are able to materialize and showcase our product on the world around us. Hence, we over value that thing because to us, it symbolizes our mark made on the world.
So next time you have a cleaning session think back to the IKEA Effect and really take an inventory of if you really need that self-made product or if you just like it because it is something of yours that you made.
That in and of itself is a good reason to keep something, but keep in mind that your brain is playing tricks on you.
If you’re interested in this topic of psychology be sure to check out this article about how companies utilize the IKEA Effect to get you to buy their products and make it too!
