People who lack self-control are more likely to categorize items as necessities, even if they are not, according to a new study published in the journal "Psychological Science."

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that people who scored low on a self-control scale were more likely to classify items such as lattes, manicures, and new clothes as necessities, while people who scored high on the scale were more likely to classify these items as luxuries.

The researchers believe that this difference in categorization may be due to the fact that people with low self-control are more likely to be impulsive and to give in to their desires, even if they know that those desires are not necessarily in their best interests.

"People who lack self-control may be more likely to categorize items as necessities because they are more likely to want those items and to believe that they need them," said study co-author Emily Pronin. "This can lead to problems, such as overspending and debt."

The researchers also found that people who categorized more items as necessities were more likely to experience negative emotions, such as stress and anxiety. This suggests that categorizing items as necessities may be a way of coping with the stress of feeling like one does not have enough money.

"Categorizing items as necessities may be a way of making oneself feel better about spending money on those items," said Pronin. "However, this can be a dangerous coping mechanism, as it can lead to overspending and debt."

The researchers hope that their findings can help people to become more aware of their spending habits and to make more informed decisions about how they spend their money.

"By understanding the relationship between self-control and necessity categorization, we can help people to make better financial decisions and to avoid the negative consequences of overspending," said Pronin.