acquisitiveness

Acquisitiveness is the tendency to acquire and possess goods, money, or status, often with a particular emphasis on material possessions. It can describe a moderate preference for accumulation or a pronounced drive that others may interpret as greed or avarice. The term itself is neutral in form, though its evaluative weight varies with context.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Latin acquirere, meaning to obtain. Acquisitive and acquisitiveness have appeared in English since the early modern period, with usage in moral philosophy, psychology, and economics to discuss motives for accumulation and ownership.

In psychology and behavior: Acquisitiveness is not a formal diagnostic category, but it relates closely to materialism, consumerism, and the motivation to acquire. It can influence consumer behavior, status signaling, and identity construction through possessions. Pathological forms of excessive acquisition can appear in discussions of hoarding, where difficulties discarding items coexist with compulsive acquisition in some cases.

Cultural and economic perspectives: Some theories treat acquisitiveness as a driver of economic growth, innovation, and efficiency, while others criticize it for contributing to social inequality, environmental strain, and individual dissatisfaction. Cultural norms, advertising, and social comparison can amplify acquisitive tendencies, whereas ethical or communal frameworks may encourage restraint or alternative values around possession.

See also: materialism, greed, consumerism, hoarding disorder, wealth.