For some parents, a box of old toys is difficult to throw away even when their children are adults. A faded teddy bear, a plastic car, a worn-out doll or a favourite childhood game may have little practical value anymore, yet it can feel almost impossible to put it in the trash. Psychology suggests that this behaviour may have less to do with the material value of the toy and more to do with what the object represents.
Research on possessions and memory shows that objects can act as powerful cues for recalling personally meaningful experiences. A review by Elise van den Hoven and colleagues found that possessions can help people preserve, embody and retrieve autobiographical memories.
