Considering today’s economic conditions and shopping habits, using a credit card has become an indispensable situation.
Thanks to the various credit cards that have recently taken place in our wallets, it may be pleasant for us to know that the payment of the products we buy will appear in the following weeks by just scanning a card. In other words, the credit card we use can create an expectation of pleasure when it comes to buying. As a result of our stimulating response, our spending habits can make us “shopping addicts”.
How Credit Cards Trigger the Brain’s Reward Impulses
Credit cards often take advantage of the brain’s reward impulses, leading to more purchases or spending. The fact that the credit card is widely used today as a contactless payment method and simple swiping gives us the pleasure of shopping because we can pay for the product or service we buy at that moment.
Now let’s look at what goes through your brain when you use a credit card to buy something;
The striatum, the dopaminergic reward center of the brain, deals with reward processing. Amphetamines are the same part of your brain that is exploited by cocaine and other substances.
Credit cards will refine your brain’s reward networks and allow you to speed up your purchases without worrying about spending.
Credit Card and Cash Psychology
As the world moves towards a cashless economy in the face of economic conditions, people are becoming increasingly dependent on cards or other online payment methods. However, the use of these payment methods, especially credit cards, causes people to spend more.
Paying by credit card is more preferred than paying by debit card. Paying with a bank card may make us think because the amount you spend will be withdrawn from your savings. When spending on a credit card, you have a minimal amount of thinking because you don’t pay with the money you have saved in your own account.
So the moment you buy something, you don’t have to pay anything. This makes any purchase with credit cards psychologically less painful. As a result, the limit you set for yourself decreases, and eventually you start buying instantaneously.
What are the positive and negative effects of Credit Cards?
We know how difficult it is to shop with cash in this economic process we have come. On the online platforms where we shop, our registered card information is included.
Credit cards undoubtedly provide convenience and benefit to users. But you should be aware of its impact on the human brain, its psychology, and our spending habits. At the end of the month, you should make sure to use your credit card in a measured and responsible manner in order not to be in a difficult situation as a household.
