From trashed to treasured: A grounded theory analysis of the found object.

Both research and applied psychologists pay surprisingly little attention to the material objects encountered inday-to-day living, even though the significance of these objects in human development has been profound.Drawing on literature from the visual arts, consumer behavior, anthropology, psychology, art therapy, andmuseum studies, this is the first known article to examine the psychological, social, and aesthetic factorsinvolved in found and second-hand object use. A survey design employing a qualitative questionnaire,analyzed by grounded theory, was given to 65 people from 8 countries. Results identified a found objectprocess that involves the interaction of aesthetic, cognitive, emotive, mnemonic, ecological, and creativefactors in the seeking, discovery, and utilization of found objects. This has potential implications for the useof material objects within health care by applied psychologists and allied professionals. An initial theoreticalexplanation about the use of found objects is proposed to help guide further research in this area.