Bachchan beckons: The brand ambassador for the Dubai Shopping Festival calls, are you game?

London, July 3: The WAGs ? wives and girlfriends of the English footballers in Germany ? have, judging by recent photographs, been having a wonderful time.

The images give the impression, possibly unfairly, that the WAGs’ favourite recreations are shopping for designer labels and drinking in smart bars. Educationalists have muttered about the example this sets, for in this age of the cult of the celebrity, these women are often considered important as role models.

At first sight, it is hard to believe that the WAGs, laden with shopping bags, would have been as happy in the museums and art galleries that abound in German cities as they are in a sophisticated, tempting department store.

It is even more difficult to believe that the average teenager would be converted to a love of medieval history simply because they have seen Victoria Beckham studying pilgrims’ badges while being photographed by an alert member of the paparazzi.

One report suggested that the footballers’ wives were suffering from impulse control disorder. An unlikely concept. An impulse control disorder is characterised by a disturbed personality that is totally unable to resist an impulse, drive or temptation. The psyche of people with this problem is not only disturbed at the time of buying, or whatever their particular need is, but for days or even weeks beforehand.

Having finally satisfied their lust, by acquiring the latest designer dress for instance, they are temporarily relaxed and happy and the tension that had been building has been dissipated. Unfortunately, once the booty has been taken home and given a cursory glance, the tension starts to mount again.

There are many desires other than buying that can become the subject of impulse control disorders, stimulating this pattern of mounting tension and desire, followed by relaxation and then a resumption of the cycle.

These urges include kleptomania, an inability to resist the temptation to steal, even if the goods are not wanted; pyromania, an overwhelming drive to set fire to something; and more common than is supposed, dromomania, an irresistible desire to travel (this hang-up is also known as the vagabond neurosis).

It was once also fashionable to include alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling and antisocial sexual behaviour among the impulse control disorders, but these are now classified separately.

Compulsive buying is considered one of, if not the, most common manifestation of impulse control disorder, but it is a pretty good bet that the WAGs have just been enjoying an afternoon of shopping, have plenty of money to spend and a perfectly normal psyche.

Compulsive buyers are people whose lives revolve around the next big spend and who have a great ability to fantasise. They are more often women than men and can mentally visualise themselves wearing some particular outfit and, thanks to it, being the belle of the ball.

Others may hope to revolutionise their home decor with furniture, or even have a swimming pool ? the fantasies that fertile minds can dream up about life round a pool are endless, but take no account of the reality of wet afternoons and cold north winds.