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Compulsive Buying: The Role of Irrational Beliefs, Materialism, and Narcissism

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Abstract

Our goal was to examine how irrational beliefs, materialism, and narcissism relate to and predict compulsive buying. One hundred and fifty-five (155) undergraduate women completed the Compulsive-Buying Scale, the Irrational Beliefs Inventory, the Material Values Scale-Short Form, and the 16-item Narcissistic Personality Inventory. As expected, irrational beliefs and materialism were correlated and predicted compulsive buying. Additionally, irrational beliefs were associated with compulsive buying only for those who scored high in narcissism. Examining the Irrational Beliefs Inventory subscales, Problem Avoidance and Rigidity were the sole subscales that predicted compulsive buying. Implications for the amelioration and treatment of compulsive buying are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Michele Bridges for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. Our appreciation is extended to Rick Hofscher for his assistance with data collection.

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  1. Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington Campus, 3550 Seventh Street Road, Route 780, Upper Burrell, PA, 15068-1765, USA

    Richard J. Harnish & K. Robert Bridges

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Correspondence to Richard J. Harnish.

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Harnish, R.J., Bridges, K.R. Compulsive Buying: The Role of Irrational Beliefs, Materialism, and Narcissism. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 33, 1–16 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-014-0197-0

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