Ariana Young

Ariana Young serves as Professor and Department Chair of Psychological and Behavioral Science at California Lutheran University's Woodland Hills Center. Her academic profile centers on social psychology with emphasis on the social construction of self-identity through interpersonal dynamics.

Her pioneering research investigates social surrogates—symbolic bonds formed through books, films, television, celebrities, fictional characters, social media (Facebook, Twitter), and comfort foods—demonstrating their capacity to provide psychological benefits including enhanced sense of belonging, loneliness reduction, and improvements in self-esteem and body image. Additional research explores interpersonal attachment mechanisms and social comparison processes within modern digital ecosystems.