The trend toward late-season holiday shopping to hunt for bargains may encourage chronic procrastination, according to DePaul University visiting assistant professor of psychology Joseph Ferrari, a researcher on chronic procrastination.

"Apparently people are out there shopping but they aren't buying," Ferrari said. "Our culture has gotten used to waiting until the last minute to shop for gifts because we're rewarded with bargains. We're fostering and encouraging people to be procrastinators."

Ferrari suggests that if retailers began the shopping season with deep discounts and raised prices until the holidays it would discourage shoppers from procrastinating. "Of course, retailers would be unlikely to follow this suggestion, but if they did it would be to their advantage. They'd make their holiday season profits sooner rather than later."

Research conducted by Ferrari at DePaul for his book, "Procrastination and Task Avoidance: Theory, Research and Treatment," found that 20 percent of normal adults describe themselves as chronic procrastinators. For these people, the behavior is a lifestyle in which they constantly and purposefully delay starting tasks, he said.

Why do they procrastinate? Some seek the excitement of accomplishing tasks on deadline, while others react to unpleasant tasks by avoiding them, Ferrari said.

"Telling a chronic procrastinator to 'just do it' is like telling a clinically depressed person to cheer up," Ferrari said. Brief therapy can often help the chronic procrastinator overcome the behavior, he added.

(Reporter's Note: Ferrari can be reached at his office, 773-325-4244, or at home, 630-434-0580).