Psychologist reveals the alarming reason people are obsessed with buying Labubus

People are still going crazy for Labubus, those scary rabbit monsters that everyone is hanging on their handbags, and a psychologist has explained the unsettling reason for the appeal.

Some think they’re ugly little things and would never dream of buying one, but others can’t get enough and are spending hundreds of pounds collecting them, and it’s not just for fun.

Speaking to Tyla, chartered clinical psychologist Tracy King explained that trinkets like Labubus are “deeply symbolic” response to the uncertain, volatile world we live in.

“On the surface, they’re fun and whimsical. But psychologically, they’re deeply symbolic: these objects offer small, accessible moments of comfort, control, and identity in an unpredictable world,” she explained.

“The old idea of the career ladder offered a sense of linear progression—work hard, move up, gain security. But for Gen Z, that ladder has been replaced with something more like an escape room. You’re expected to solve problems with no clear instructions, hit invisible milestones, and often find the goalposts moving entirely.”

“In this landscape, collectibles become something you can control. They’re emotionally grounding, they provide joy in manageable doses, and they often connect you to community. In a world full of uncertainty, buying a plushie in a strawberry hat becomes nervous system regulation.”

Basically, our current world is so terrifying and unpredictable that people see Labubus as a form of not only escape, but also security in their lives. What a scary thought.

Credit: Pop Mart

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“Gen Z were raised in a digital world where identity is curated, not assumed. They’ve watched global crises unravel with pandemics, recessions, the climate emergency—so the big life goals that guided previous generations often feel out of reach,” the psychologist added.

“Small joys, soft comforts, and identity-aligned purchases feel both accessible and meaningful. And in a social media landscape where aesthetics are a form of communication, trinkets become part of how people express emotion, personality, and belonging.”

On top of that, because modern life is so unpredictable, Gen Z is “investing in now” rather than saving for things like mortgages and pensions.

I know what you’re thinking. So why are grown adults buying Labubus then? Well, King said the playful objects are a “form of emotional repair” for many, which “evoke feelings of safety, care, and nostalgia, things that might’ve been missing or cut short in early life”.

“As long as society remains fragmented, and demanding, people will continue to seek soft, small, symbolic ways to feel better. Trinket culture is a response to burnout and disconnection. It’s not a shallow trend. It’s a psychological response to the demands of modern life.”

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Featured image by: Pop Mart