- Britons said they preferred buying collectible magnets over photographs
They can be thought of as ‘tat’ you picked up on holiday.
But catching a glimpse of a refrigerator magnet in the kitchen can boost a traveler’s mood long after the trip is over.
Research has shown that the souvenirs can help protect memories and trigger positive emotional responses.
Brits surveyed said it was a priority to pick one up when they were away – with some enjoying magnet collections more than photo albums.
One participant said, “I don’t tend to take a picture of anything…I just grab a fridge magnet at the end and I can remember everything about it.”
Research has shown that souvenirs such as refrigerator magnets can help protect memories and trigger positive emotional responses, reminding people of happy times
The purchases appeared to be repetitive behavior, with one woman recalling a “huge panic” after realizing she hadn’t bought one on the way home.
Many said they were reminded of their vacation every time they opened the refrigerator door – especially if a magnet fell. Some magnets had become attached to more poignant memories over the years, serving as reminders of outings with friends or relatives who had since passed away.
Research leaders from the University of Liverpool wrote in the journal Annals of Tourism Research: ‘Although souvenirs have attracted significant interest within tourism research, less attention has been paid to the post-holiday ‘afterlife’.
‘Fridge magnets are unusual among souvenirs because they are intended for one specific purpose in the home: the refrigerator.
‘Because of their anchoring in daily domestic rhythms, magnets are active agents in stimulating post-holiday memory work… (they) have a complex capacity to influence daily life long after a holiday has ended.’