Money Mastery Method with Linda Davies

Imagine stepping into your attic or opening a long-forgotten cupboard, only to find stacks of old clothes, boxes of mismatched holiday decorations or an assortment of items you thought might one day be useful. That urge to hold onto things, to hoard possessions “just in case,” might not be entirely your fault. According to John Tregoning, a professor at Imperial College London, the instinct to hoard could be buried deep within our genetic makeup, specifically in the Neanderthal DNA many of us still carry today.

In his book Live Forever? A Curious Scientist’s Guide to Wellness, Aging and Death, Tregoning delves into the fascinating connection between Neanderthal ancestry and human behaviour. He explains that those with even a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA (around 2% or more) may be more predisposed to hoard or collect things. This behaviour, he suggests, was likely an adaptive strategy for survival during prehistoric times.

For our Neanderthal ancestors, hoarding wasn’t just a habit; it was essential. Resources were scarce, winters were harsh, and the uncertainty of finding food, tools or warmth the next day was a constant challenge. Holding onto surplus materials wasn’t just prudent, it was a matter of life or death. Fast forward thousands of years and while we no longer face the same dire circumstances, that scarcity-driven mindset lingers within us.

Today, this evolutionary hangover plays out in less life-threatening ways. Instead of stockpiling furs and food for a long winter, we cling to possessions like extra kitchen gadgets, unworn shoes or countless digital files “just in case.” While it might seem irrational in the context of modern abundance, this tendency is a testament to the survival strategies of our ancestors.

Interestingly, Tregoning’s exploration of this trait isn’t just about understanding our quirks; it’s also a reminder of how deeply our evolutionary history shapes the way we interact with the world. What was once a survival mechanism has now become a complex relationship with material possessions, sometimes leading to cluttered homes, storage units filled to capacity or a sense of guilt over our inability to let go.

But what if this understanding gave us a new perspective? Instead of battling with feelings of frustration over our hoarding tendencies, we could recognise them as part of an ancient, deeply rooted instinct. By appreciating the evolutionary roots of this behaviour, we might also find it easier to reflect on what we truly need versus what we simply hold onto out of habit or an unconscious fear of scarcity.

Tregoning’s insights also highlight an important truth about modern life: we are living in a world designed for abundance, but our brains are wired for survival. This mismatch can lead to behaviours like hoarding, which may not always serve us in today’s environment. Understanding this gap can help us make more mindful choices, whether that means clearing out our closets or breaking free from the grip of “just in case” thinking.

So, the next time you feel a pang of hesitation about parting with that old jumper or unused appliance, pause for a moment. Perhaps it’s not just about the object itself but about a whisper from your ancient ancestors, a legacy of survival instincts encoded in your very DNA. Recognising this might not only bring a sense of relief but also a deeper connection to the remarkable story of human evolution.

After all, our behaviours, whether shaped by Neanderthal DNA or modern circumstances, tell a story of resilience, adaptation, and the enduring drive to survive in an unpredictable world.

#scarcitycomplex #dna #moneymatters