Freud (with regards to the psychology of collecting), took the extreme position on the origins of collecting.
Freud postulated that all collecting stems from unresolved toilet training conflict. He took the stance that the loss of bowel control was a traumatic experience, and the product from the bowels was disgusting and frightening to the child.
Therefore, the collector is trying to gain back control of their bowels as well as their "possessions" which were long flushed down the crapper. Where Freud linked object fixation to the anal-retentive stage in childhood.
