Concerns abound over stuffed toys as an adult hobby
By Lin Chih-yi and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Taking plush toys on outings is a harmless hobby as long as healthy boundaries are maintained, a Taiwanese psychologist said yesterday following a criticism by a Japanese psychiatrist who said the practice is childlike.
Collecting cute toys has become a popular hobby in the past few years, and many people take their toys with them whenever they go out, photographing them at scenic spots and events.
Japanese psychiatrist Tamami Katada characterized the hobby as a type of “psychological infantilization,” saying there should be no need to bring toys with you if you have a partner or children to travel with instead.
A person’s bag is adorned with cute toys in an undated photo.
Photo: AFP
Japanese Internet users reacted strongly to the psychiatrist’s argument, saying that collecting toys is just a hobby and form of stress relief. The psychiatrist’s comments could stigmatize the toy-collecting community, and even collectors with partners and children still take their toys with them, Internet users said.
When reached for comment, Taiwan-based counseling psychologist Carol Lan (藍挹丰) said: “As long as people do not become overly attached to toys or let the hobby interfere with their social functioning, there is no need for concern.”
Bringing toys on outings is a casual hobby for many people, Lan said, adding that trends come and go, so it is not unusual for people to take up the same hobby at the same time.
While society encourages people to build interpersonal relationships and enjoy the companionship of others, people can maintain their real-life relationships while collecting toys and finding comfort in them, Lan said.
As long as people do not become overly dependent on them, it is an acceptable personal hobby, she added.
Toys can be decorative and provide companionship, and some collectors consider them works of art.
The Japanese psychiatrist’s comments serve as a reminder that some people develop unhealthy attachments to objects, she said.
People who collect toys or have friends who do can watch for signs of the hobby interfering with their daily lives, she added.
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