Assistant professor explains the connection between materialism and loneliness

Published July 7, 2026
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College of Business

Max Alberhasky, an assistant professor in the Department of Marketing  at Cal State Long Beach, wrote a column for Psychology Today exploring the surprising link between materialism and loneliness. He explained that research suggests "retail therapy"—buying something to boost your mood—may actually increase feelings of loneliness rather than relieve them.

 

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Max Alberhasky
Max Alberhasky