Publication (142 pages).

is considered disorganized or clean. The position
also implies required aid in the form
of intervention to change behaviour. Ideologies
that are conveyed by professional organizers
are those of moral claims; they are
disseminated through ‘professionals’ and
appear legitimate to members of society.
Morality In the case of hoarding situations,
the introduction of a professional organizer
can imply that the hoard is not up to societal
standards, and change is require to be
‘normal’. This signals that a moral claim of
excess disorganization is present. There are
several reasons why such an intervention is
problematic: first, it suggests that only one
form of organization is considered legitimate.
If the hoarder has a system of organization
they prefer, it is considered wrong.
Second, it implies that disorganization is
wrong and unacceptable in society. Third,
it may suggest that personal behavioural
changes are required in order to be accepted
by society, signalling to the hoarder that
it is not just their behaviour but also their
individual selves that are in need of major
changes. The presence of professional organizers
works as another authority that
can disseminate ideologies about cleanliness
and organization. For hoarders, they
becomeanother figure who may attempt to
regulate behaviour in the name of normalcy
or acceptance in society. The increase of
this type of self-proclaimed expert suggests
the rising moral ideas about hoarding as an
unacceptable behaviour in society.
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