Abstract: As a core construct describing the cross-contextual transfer of individual psychological states, the spillover effect has attracted extensive attention in environmental psychology, organizational behavior, consumer psychology and other fields. However, it has long been plagued by ambiguous conceptual boundaries and fragmented mechanistic explanations, which restrict theoretical accumulation and intervention transformation. This review aims to construct an integrated theoretical framework of the spillover effect in psychology through a systematic review. Firstly, based on a four-dimensional coordinate system including transmission subject, transmission direction, intentionality and diffusion structure, this review clarifies the boundaries between spillover and easily confused concepts such as compensation, cross-over and ripple effects. Secondly, this paper proposes a mechanism model of spillover occurrence process consisting of three core stages: trigger transformation stage, diffusion and transmission stage, and effect manifestation stage. Finally, focusing on the new context of human-computer interaction in the digital era, this review puts forward directions for theoretical extension based on the integrated model. By synthesizing fragmented evidence and concepts, this review aims to provide a theoretical framework for deepening the theory of psychological spillover effect and implementing cross-contextual behavioral interventions.

Key words: spillover effect, psychological boundary, behavioral spillover, digital age, human–computer interaction