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The cognitive mechanism of reducing procrastination by emotion regulation: The mediation role of task aversiveness TONG Tingting, BAI Youling, FENG Tingyong Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (4): 458-468.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00458 Abstract （10926）   HTML （1538）    PDF （554KB）（22669）       Knowledge map    Previous research has shown that using adaptive emotion-regulation strategies, particularly cognitive reappraisal, can help reduce procrastination. However, the precise cognitive mechanisms underlying the impact of emotion regulation on procrastination remain unclear. The temporal decision model of procrastination posits that procrastination is primarily influenced by the tradeoff between task aversiveness and outcome utility. When task aversiveness surpasses outcome utility, individuals are more likely to procrastinate, whereas when outcome utility outweighs task aversiveness, immediate action is more probable. Consequently, emotion regulation could reduce procrastination by diminishing task aversiveness or by improving outcome utility. To investigate this issue, based on Gross’s emotion regulation theory and the temporal decision model of procrastination, this research focuses on individuals exhibiting high levels of procrastination (as measured by the General Procrastination Scale, with scores above 67.5). These participants were divided into two groups: the positive reappraisal group (consisting of 34 individuals) and the ineffective strategy group (also consisting of 34 individuals). Over a period of 7 days, the two groups were longitudinally tracked through empirical sampling, resulting in a total of 14 data collection points. The results showed that: (1) There was no notable disparity between the two groups in task executive willingness during the pre-test, while the positive reappraisal group demonstrated a significantly higher task executive willingness compared to the ineffective strategy group in the post-test, indicating that positive reappraisal significantly enhanced individuals’ task executive willingness. (2) No significant difference was observed in task aversiveness between the two groups during the pre-test, while the positive reappraisal group exhibited noticeably lower levels of task aversiveness compared to the ineffective strategy group in the post-test. Additionally, initial outcome utility levels did not differ significantly between the two groups, while the positive reappraisal group demonstrated significantly higher outcome utility compared to the ineffective strategy group in the post-test. (3) Mediation analysis indicated that the reduction of task aversiveness mediated the influence of emotion regulation on the degree of improvement in procrastination (that is, the increase in task executive willingness), whereas the increase of outcome utility did not mediate the impact of emotion regulation on the degree of improvement in procrastination (that is, the increase in task executive willingness). These findings suggest that emotion regulation mainly enhance individuals’ task executive willingness by diminishing task aversiveness, thereby reducing procrastination behavior. This offers a strong theoretical foundation for interventions targeting procrastination through the lens of emotional regulation. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Relationship between adolescents’ smartphone stress and mental health: Based on the multiverse-style analysis and intensive longitudinal method HUANG Shunsen, LAI Xiaoxiong, ZHANG Cai, ZHAO Xinmei, DAI Xinran, QI Mengdi, WANG Huanlei, WANG Wenrong, WANG Yun Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (6): 745-758.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00745 Abstract （8057）   HTML （831）    PDF （1194KB）（10577）       Knowledge map    Adolescents frequently encounter elevated levels of digital stress by exposure to digital media (e.g., smartphone stress). Their ongoing brain development increases adolescents’ susceptibility to digital stress, making them more vulnerable to its adverse effects. Among digital devices, smartphones are the most widely used ones by adolescents and a primary source of digital stress. The current study aims to investigate the robust association between digital stress, specifically smartphone stress, and adolescent mental health. The study also aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this association. In Study 1, a multiverse-style analysis was employed to investigate the robust relationship between smartphone stress and mental health (depression and well-being) in a large sample of adolescents (N= 74 182, male = 39 192). This method was chosen for its robustness of various data manipulations to test the effect of interest, and median β and NSRPD (number of significant results in predominant direction) were used as statistical inference indicators of the effect. In Study 2, we conducted an intensive longitudinal design to examine the mechanism of how smartphone stress affects mental health among adolescents (N= 477, female = 214, Mage= 12.67 ± 0.31). Before intensive longitudinal design, we assessed smartphone stress, well-being, and depression (T1). Subsequently, daily rumination (consecutive 17 days, T2) and daily negative mood (consecutive 18 days, T3) were assessed over a 35-day period. Upon intensive longitudinal design, we once again measured well-being and depression (T4). We found that rumination, negative emotion (NE), and rumination-NE (serial mediation) mediate the link between smartphone stress and mental health (smartphone stress-depression model, smartphone stress-well-being model). Study 1 indicated that over half of adolescents (52.6% of grade 4 students and 78.2% of grade 8 students) experienced smartphone stress. Furthermore, smartphone stress strongly and robustly predicted depression (Median β = 0.37, p < 0.001, NSRPD = 160/160, p< 0.001, partial r2 = 0.172) and well-being (Median β = −0.14, p < 0.001, NSRPD = 160/160, p < 0.001, partial r2 = 0.011). Effect sizes from both outcomes (partial r2 > 0.010) are capable to inform policy and the public sphere. Study 2 revealed that rumination intensity, negative emotion intensity, and rumination-negative emotion intensity mediate the relationship between smartphone stress and depression. However, no mediation was found for rumination or negative emotion fluctuation. In smartphone stress-well-being model, negative emotion intensity and rumination-negative emotion intensity, but not rumination intensity, mediated the association between smartphone stress and well-being. Moreover, negative emotion and rumination-negative emotion fluctuation, but not rumination fluctuation, mediated the association between smartphone stress and well-being. Therefore, the intensity and fluctuation of rumination and negative emotion are common mediators in the relationship between smartphone stress and depression/well-being, while the effects of mechanisms are outcome-dependent. The findings pinpoint the significant and robust effect of smartphone stress on depression and well-being among adolescents. The mediation of rumination and negative emotion in the relationship between smartphone stress and mental health probes into the mechanism of this relationship. These results support classic theories (e.g., the Emotional Cascade Model) and confirm and enrich the recent Media use-Digital stress-Mental health model. These findings could also inform future interventions for mental health problems related to smartphone stress. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Social inclusion regulates the effect of social exclusion on adaptation to emotional conflict MENG Xianxin, LUO Yi, HAN Chenyuan, WU Guowei, CHANG Jiao, YUAN Jiajing, QIAN Kun, FU Xiaolan Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (5): 577-593.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00577 Abstract （7987）   HTML （952）    PDF （533KB）（10254）       Knowledge map    Social exclusion is a very painful experience that threatens people’s physical and mental health, potentially increasing their risk of developing emotional problems. However, the psychological mechanism by which social exclusion affects emotional problems remains unclear. Studies have found that an impaired adaptability to emotional conflict plays an important role in emotional problems. Therefore, the first objective of the present study is to explore whether and how social exclusion affects adaptation to emotional conflict. After a person experiences social exclusion, social inclusion can promote positive emotions and lessen negative emotions. Therefore, the second objective of the present study is to explore whether and how social inclusion has the potential to regulate the effect of social exclusion on adaptation to emotional conflict. The present study used the Cyberball game and face−word Stroop paradigm to explore the effect of social exclusion on adaptation to emotional conflict (Experiment 1), and whether social inclusion had the potential to regulate the effect of social exclusion on adaptation to emotional conflict (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 used a mixed experimental design with 2 (social situation: exclusion, inclusion) × 2 (previous trial consistency: consistent, inconsistent) × 2 (current trial consistency: consistent, inconsistent) format. The consistency of the previous trial and the consistency of the current trial were the within-subject factors, while the social situation was the between-subject factor. In Experiment 1, participants were randomly assigned to either the inclusion group or the exclusion group. Experiment 2 used a mixed experimental design with 2 (Game 1: exclusion vs. inclusion) × 2 (Game 2: exclusion vs. inclusion) × 2 (previous trial consistency: consistent, inconsistent) × 2 (current trial consistency: consistent, inconsistent) format. The consistency of both the previous trial and the current trial were the within-subject factors, while Game 1 and Game 2 were the between-subject factors. In Experiment 2, participants were randomly assigned to the inclusion−exclusion, exclusion−exclusion, exclusion− inclusion, or inclusion−inclusion groups. In Experiment 1, the emotional conflict adaptation effect in reaction times of the exclusion group was lower than that of the inclusion group. In Experiment 2, the inclusion−exclusion group showed a greater emotional conflict adaptation effect in its reaction times than the exclusion−exclusion group. There was no significant difference in the emotional conflict adaptation effect in reaction times between the exclusion−inclusion group and the inclusion−inclusion group. In conclusion, social exclusion has the potential to reduce the individual’s adaptation to emotional conflict, while social inclusion has the potential to regulate the excluded individual’s adaptation to emotional conflict. These findings contribute to understanding the relationship between social exclusion and emotional problems and provide a feasible program to mitigate the risk of emotional problems caused by social exclusion. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Beyond the myth of slimming: The impact of social norms on positive body image and caloric intake among young adults TANG Meihui, TIAN Shuwan, XIE Tian Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (10): 1367-1383.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01367 Abstract （7208）   HTML （727）    PDF （932KB）（10797）       Knowledge map    Under the influence of the mass media, many individuals have embraced the “thin-ideal” social norm, wherein people accept and adhere to the behavioral norm that perceives thinness as the ideal body type. This trend has resulted in many young adults compromising their positive body image and adopting unhealthy weight loss practices, such as reducing their caloric intake. Based on the self-discrepancy theory, this paper proposes that the thin-ideal social norm will strengthen the thin-ideal self-concept, which will amplify any existing discrepancy between the ideal self and the actual self, ultimately diminishing the individual’s positive body image. In that light, the present research explored the effects of social norm interventions on improving young adults’ positive body image and increasing their caloric intake. The findings suggest that interventions that address misconceptions, particularly when combined with role models, yield more favorable outcomes than interventions that focus solely on correcting misunderstandings within the social norm framework do. The present research comprised one questionnaire study and three intervention studies, involving 612 participants. Study 1 examined the mediating role of body mass index (BMI) self-discrepancy in the relationship between the thin-ideal social norm and a positive body image. Two hundred eleven participants (113 females, aged 22.31 ± 2.10 years) completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of the social norms, their BMI self-discrepancy, and their positive body image. Studies 2~4 were dedicated to practical interventions. In Study 2, 117 participants (79 females, aged 22.56 ± 2.28 years) received either interventions that addressed misinformation about social norms, or no information. The participants reported their positive body image at the beginning and end of the study, along with their caloric intake over 4 days. Study 3 involved 155 participants (111 females, aged 22.06 ± 2.13 years) who were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: correcting misunderstandings alone, combining that intervention with role models, or no intervention. As was the case with Study 2, the participants reported their positive body image and caloric intake over 4 days. In Study 4, 147 participants (89 females, aged 22.57 ± 2.10 years) were randomly assigned to one of three interventions that were similar to those in Study 3 but spanned 10 days. Those participants reported their body image at two time points and their caloric intake at five time points. Study 1 revealed that self-discrepancy partially mediated the relationship between the social norms of the thin ideal and body image. Specifically, both the thin-ideal descriptive and injunctive social norms could reduce body image by increasing the self-discrepancy between ideal BMI and real BMI. Building upon Study 1, Study 2 revealed that the instructive social norm intervention demonstrated a positive impact on caloric intake, compared with no intervention, but not on positive body image, and its effectiveness was limited to correcting misunderstandings. Motivated by the insights from Study 2, Studies 3 and 4 advanced the research by adopting more robust descriptive social norm interventions and also employing descriptive social norm interventions that incorporated role models. Study 3 showed that both interventions had better effects on positive body image and caloric intake than no intervention did. In Study 4, among groups adhering to restrictive diets, the application of the norm-based intervention did not yield a significant improvement in positive body image. However, the findings suggest that the descriptive social norm interventions which incorporated role models exhibited not only a better impact but also a more sustained and prolonged duration of intervention effectiveness on caloric intake. This research contributes valuable insights into thin-ideal social norms. It suggests a more effective intervention strategy that provides practical recommendations which are applicable to individuals, role models, and commercial organizations. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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A longitudinal study on depression and anxiety among Chinese adolescents in the late phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: The trajectories, antecedents, and outcomes YANG Zhixu, PENG Haiyun, XIN Sufei Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (4): 482-496.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00482 Abstract （6987）   HTML （720）    PDF （601KB）（9486）       Knowledge map    During the COVID-19 pandemic, all age groups’ mental health has substantially declined. Compared to other age groups, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health problems was more salient, particularly on depression and anxiety. Previous studies, which were primarily conducted during the phase of COVID-19 pandemic, have mainly covered the first and second phases of COVID-19-related prevention and containment in China, without adequate attention being paid to the third and fourth phases of COVID-19-related prevention and containment in China. Currently, there are three competing hypotheses for the longitudinal trajectories of depression and anxiety among Chinese adolescents in the post-COVID era, making the construction of the mental health monitoring system and the mental health service system for adolescents in China “blind spots”. Based on developmental contextualism and three-dimensional theoretical framework of mental health change, the present study thus investigated the developmental trajectories of depression and anxiety among adolescents, as well as the potential antecedent (psychological resilience) and outcome (prosocial tendency) of such trajectories in the late phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. In this study, 1170 adolescents in Shandong province were assessed at three time points with a six-month interval (Time 1 = May 2021; Time 2 = November 2021; Time 3 = May 2022) from the normalization period of the pandemic through self-report questionnaires. The adolescents completed Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale during the three measurements. Furthermore, all adolescents completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale at Time 1 and Prosocial Tendencies Measure at Time 3. Attrition analyses, common method bias analyses, and descriptive statistics were analyzed by SPSS software. The trajectories of depression and anxiety, as well as their associated antecedent (i.e., psychological resilience) and outcome (i.e., prosocial tendency) were further analyzed via latent growth curve models using Mplus software. According to the results of the latent growth curve models, adolescents’ depression and anxiety levels tended to decline. The higher the level of depression and anxiety at Time 1, the slower the decline over time. Furthermore, psychological resilience at Time 1 negatively predicted initial levels of depression and anxiety but positively predicted the decreasing speed of depression and anxiety trajectories. Concerning the outcomes, we found that the initial level and speed of depression trajectories significantly and negatively predicted the levels of prosocial tendency at Time 3. Regarding the anxiety trajectory, its intercept factor negatively predicted prosocial tendency at Time 3, but its slope factor’s predictive effect was non-significant. Finally, multi-group analyses revealed that both boys and girls showed declining trends in depression and anxiety over time, while girls scored significantly higher on depression and anxiety initially than boys. In conclusion, this research found that the changes in mental health (particularly depression and anxiety problems) among Chinese adolescents in the late phase of the COVID-19 pandemic were developing well, which provides empirical evidence for better construction of adolescent mental health service systems in China. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Network analysis and core dimensions of adolescent prosocial behavior LIN Jing, XU Boya, YANG Ying, ZHANG Qing-peng, KOU Yu Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (9): 1252-1265.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01252 Abstract （6942）   HTML （944）    PDF （5972KB）（10533）       Knowledge map    Previous studies have discovered that the concept of prosocial behavior among adolescents is composed of four dimensions: commonweal-social rule, altruism, relationship, and personal trait. Utilizing this four- dimensional structure, the Prosocial Behavior Scale for Adolescents (PBSA) measurements revealed gender and grade-level differences in the importance attributed to each dimension. Furthermore, numerous prior studies on the development of adolescent prosocial behavior have yielded inconsistent results. In this study, we employed a network analysis approach to explore the network of adolescent prosocial behavior, uncovering the relationships among different dimensions and individual questionnaire items, revealing its core dimensions, and shedding light on differences across gender and grade. Conducted in 2017, this study included 9160 students from 15 schools spanning eight provinces or municipalities, namely Beijing, Fujian, Henan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Chongqing, with ages ranging from 10 to 17 and covering elementary, middle, and high school students. We utilized the PBSA, consisting of 15 items based on the four-dimensional concept, to assess and analyze the network of adolescent prosocial behavior. The network analysis process followed the standardization guidelines published by Epskamp et al, utilizing qgraph in the R programming for network estimation and computation of centrality indices. Finally, we performed comparisons of dimension networks and item networks across different genders and grades. In the overall network of adolescent prosocial behavior, as well as in the grade- and gender-based networks, the commonweal-social rule dimension consistently exhibited the highest centrality, followed by altruism, relationship, and traits dimensions. Compared to the prosocial behavior network in females, the male prosocial behavior network showed higher centrality in the commonweal-social rule and relationship dimensions, occupying more central positions within the network. When comparing prosocial behavior networks across different grades, the commonweal-social rule dimension occupied the most central position in all grades. Moreover, its centrality was highest in the middle school group. The centrality of the altruism dimension was highest in the high school group, while the relationship and personal trait dimensions held the highest centrality in the elementary school group. As for the network structure, no differences were found in the gender-based dimension networks. However, differences were identified in the grade-based dimension networks, with high school students exhibiting significantly weaker network strength than middle and elementary school students. Similarly, no notable differences were observed in the item networks based on gender, but differences were found in the item networks based on grade. Taken together, the current study has found that, in the overall sample as well as among different genders and grades, the commonweal-social rule consistently serves as a core dimension within the network structure of prosocial behavior. There were significant grade differences in both dimension networks and item prosocial behavior networks, along with subtle gender differences in item networks. These results provide a new perspective for deepening our understanding of adolescent prosocial behavior and expanding the research domain of prosocial behavior. These findings suggest that future interventions targeting the commonweal-social rule and altruism dimensions could potentially boost overall prosocial behavior in adolescents. The middle school stage may be a critical period for promoting commonweal-social rule prosocial behavior. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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How to predict whether her romantic partner will be a playboy? The predictive roles of childhood environments on women’s romantic partners’ short-term mating preferences WANG Yan, SUN Xinyun, YANG Yinbei Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (11): 1512-1523.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01512 Abstract （6781）   HTML （1011）    PDF （513KB）（12667）       Knowledge map    Drawing on Life History Theory and Paternal Investment Theory, it can be inferred that childhood environments, which include harshness, unpredictability, and parent-offspring relationships, can predict offspring’s reproductive strategies as adults. Moreover, according to Parental Investment Theory, it is generally observed that males prefer short-term mating strategies while females opt for long-term mating strategies. However, in practice, some women still choose or have romantic partners who exhibit a preference for short-term mating strategy. An intriguing question arising from this observation is whether it can be predicted from childhood environments how some women eventually have romantic partners with a higher level of short-term mating strategy. To date, few existing literatures have explored this topic. This research aims to explore the aforementioned question based on Life History Theory and its derivative, Paternal Investment Theory. In Study 1, questionnaires were collected online from 250 female participants (Mage = 22.75, SD = 2.50) who had romantic experiences. Data were analyzed using SPSS v22.0 and PROCESS 21.5 (Model 10). Results indicated that childhood unpredictability significantly moderated the relationship between childhood father-daughter relationships and adult females’ perceived mate value. Additionally, females’ perceived mate value mediated the relationship between the father-daughter relationship in childhood and their romantic partners’ short-term mating preferences, but only under conditions of stability (low levels of childhood unpredictability regardless of childhood harshness) or severe adversity (high levels of both unpredictability and harshness). In Study 2, experimental priming of the childhood father-daughter relationship was employed with 169 unmarried female participants (Mage = 21.43, SD = 2.04). The variable of childhood harshness was excluded due to its insignificant main and interactive effects observed in Study 1. Results (PROCESS 21.5, Model 8) from Study 2 demonstrated that childhood unpredictability moderated the relationship between the childhood father-daughter relationship and females’ perceived mate value, corroborating the findings from Study 1. Furthermore, results supported the mediating role of females’ perceived mate value in the relationship between childhood father-daughter relationships and participants’ tolerance of their romantic partners’ short-term mating preferences, but only under conditions where the level of childhood unpredictability ranged from low to moderate. Conclusion: The childhood father-daughter relationship and childhood unpredictability can predict adult females’ perceived mate value interactively. Additionally, females’ childhood father-daughter relationship can predict their romantic partners’ short-term mating preferences through the mediating role of women’s perceived mate value, albeit under restricted conditions. Based on these findings, the “Daughter’s Conditional Sensitivity to Paternal Investment Hypothesis” and the “Childhood Environments Socialization Hypothesis” are proposed to explain how childhood experiences socialize individuals’ life history strategies. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The influence of cultural differences between China and the West on moral responsibility judgments of virtual humans YAN Xiao, MO Tiantian, ZHOU Xinyue Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (2): 161-178.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00161 Abstract （6741）   HTML （528）    PDF （2994KB）（9163）       Knowledge map    Virtual humans are digital characters created in computer graphics software that take a first-person view of the world and have a social media presence. Compared with real humans, however, are people likely to attribute moral responsibility differently to virtual humans when they do something morally wrong? This important empirical question remains unanswered. Therefore, we addressed this query using Mental Perception Theory. We did so through exploring the influence and mechanism of cultural differences between China and the West on individuals’ moral responsibility judgments of virtual humans versus real humans. Findings revealed that, when virtual humans engaged in immoral behaviors—irrespective of whether real humans or artificial intelligence (AI) controlled them—people in China (vs. the West) attributed more moral responsibility to virtual humans but equal moral responsibility to real humans. Perceived mental capacity, especially perceived experience, mediated the interaction effect of culture. Furthermore, compared to Westerners, Chinese people were more likely to punish virtual (vs. real) humans, such as by no longer following their social accounts. Five experiments revealed the foregoing findings. Study 1a and 1b used a 2 (blogger: human vs. virtual) × 2 (culture: Chinese vs. Western) between-subjects design. Two hundred Chinese and 200 American Caucasian participants were recruited in Study 1a. They first read the profile of a virtual/human blogger, Rico, on Weibo (i.e., China)/Twitter (i.e., America). Next, they were told that Rico had exposed the private behavior of a netizen, which made that individual suffer from cyber violence. After that, participants rated the moral responsibility of Rico with two items. Consistent with our prediction, there was a significant interaction effect between the Chinese/Western culture and the virtual/human blogger on moral responsibility judgments. Specifically, Chinese (vs. Western) people attributed more moral responsibility to the virtual blogger, but there was no significant difference in moral responsibility judgments toward the human blogger. In Study 1b, we recruited 200 Chinese and 199 British Caucasian participants online. We utilized a similar study design and manipulations to those employed in Study 1a. Study 1b replicated the results of Study 1 with a new scenario (i.e., tax evasion) and new methods of measuring moral responsibility judgments. Study 1c used a 3 (blogger: human s. virtual-human vs. virtual-AI) × 2 (culture: Chinese vs. Western) between-subjects design. Three hundred Chinese and 300 British Caucasian participants were recruited online. The results showed that Chinese (vs. British) people attributed greater human-like moral responsibility to a virtual human controlled by real humans as well as by artificial intelligence. Study 2 used the same study design as employed in 1b. Two hundred Chinese and 199 American Caucasian participants were recruited online. They read the same profile of the virtual/human blogger Rico and his immoral behavior (i.e., tax evasion). Then, participants rated moral responsibility judgments and mental capacity of Rico. Results revealed the mediating role of perceived mental capacity (i.e., experience, not agency) on the cultural difference of moral responsibility judgments and ruled out two possible alternative explanations. Study 3 used a 2 (culture: Chinese vs. Western) between-subjects design. One hundred Chinese participants and 101 American Caucasian participants were recruited online. This study utilized another scenario (i.e., plagiarism) and replicated the results of the four previous studies. Furthermore, we showed the downstream effect that Chinese (vs. American) people believed that the virtual human should be punished more (i.e., fining, suspending the account, and no longer following the account). In summary, based on Mental Perception Theory, this paper provided evidence for the cultural differences between Chinese people and Westerners on moral responsibility judgments of virtual humans. Perceived mental capacity (i.e., experience, not agency) mediated this interaction effect. In addition, we revealed the downstream results of moral punishment and contributed to literature on cultural differences and the theory about moral judgments on non-human entities. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The effects of rumination on social anxiety: The role of negative self-beliefs GENG Li, FENG Qiuyang, LI Yu, QIU Jiang Acta Psychologica Sinica    2025, 57 (5): 792-804.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.0792 Abstract （6680）   HTML （795）    PDF （755KB）（11769）       Knowledge map    People sometimes recall social interactions, speculating on others' evaluations and opinions of themselves. When such thinking exceeds normal limits or is persistently accompanied by negative emotions, it becomes distressing, manifesting as rumination. Cognitive theories of social anxiety identify rumination as a pivotal factor in its onset and maintenance. Individuals engaged in rumination often form negative and pessimistic evaluations about themselves, with cognitive elements playing a crucial role. Sometimes, people develop distorted, counterfactual beliefs about themselves and others, termed negative self-beliefs, which are a type of adverse cognition and a core feature of social anxiety. Although the relationships among rumination, social anxiety, and negative self-beliefs have been theoretically discussed, empirical studies confirming their interaction mechanisms are lacking. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the significant role of negative self-beliefs in the relationship between rumination and social anxiety. The study conducted two experiments designed to provoke social anxiety and prompt participants to engage in state rumination, with the aim of monitoring and analyzing their subsequent emotional responses. Experiment 1 included 83 participants (26 males, 57 females; mean age 21.05 ± 2.15 years). The participants first underwent baseline measurements, followed by a 3-minute timed speech task to induce social anxiety. After this task, the participants were randomly divided into two groups to engage in either rumination or distraction imaging, with changes in negative self-beliefs and levels of social anxiety recorded before and after the tasks. Experiment 2 involved 51 participants (20 males, 31 females; mean age 20.14 ± 1.76 years). The experiment was conducted over two lab visits. In the first visit, the participants learned about and mastered the concepts of social anxiety and negative self-beliefs, recalled, and wrote down four previous social anxiety events and the negative self-beliefs associated with each event. During the second visit, the participants completed a keyboard response task, during which real-time emotional changes were recorded. They dealt with their negative self-beliefs according to the guidance provided under different psychological states of rumination or distraction and used various coping strategies (reacting, observing, and reevaluating) to address the presented negative self-beliefs. The results of the data analysis are as follows: Experiment 1 utilized repeated-measures ANOVA and mediation models based on change scores, revealing (1) significant positive correlations among rumination, social anxiety, and negative self-beliefs and (2) that rumination affects social anxiety by sustaining negative self-beliefs. Experiment 2, which used repeated-measures ANOVA, revealed that (1) rumination on social anxiety events triggered more negative emotions; (2) using distraction strategies to alleviate social anxiety resulted in a rebound of negative emotions; and (3) interventions targeting negative self-beliefs proved to be more effective in alleviating social anxiety. Both experiments validated and complemented each other, collectively elucidating the critical role of negative self-beliefs in the impact of rumination on social anxiety. In summary, this study explored the impact of rumination and negative self-beliefs on social anxiety, not only validating and enriching the cognitive theories of social anxiety at a theoretical level but also filling empirical gaps in the previous research. First, the experimental results clarify the mediating role of negative self-beliefs in the relationship between rumination and social anxiety, offering a new perspective for understanding the mechanisms underlying the onset and maintenance of social anxiety. This finding deepens our understanding of the interaction between rumination and social anxiety, enhancing theoretical models of social phobia and broadening cognitive models of the onset and maintenance of social anxiety disorders. Second, the research results provide a basis for developing new intervention measures. Given the significant role of negative self-beliefs in maintaining social anxiety, future interventions could focus on directly targeting these self-beliefs, offering new strategies for the clinical treatment of social anxiety. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The influence relationship among variables and types of multiple influence factors working together WEN Zhonglin, WANG Yifan, MA Peng, MENG Jin Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (10): 1462-1470.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01462 Abstract （6514）   HTML （360）    PDF （444KB）（11556）       Knowledge map    The investigation of relationships among variables is the main focus of empirical research in psychology and other social science disciplines. Many empirical studies based on questionnaire surveys involve the influence relationship between variables. However, the lack of a universally accepted definition for this concept has led to ambiguity, and it is often conflated with causal or correlational relationships, which may cause problems, especially for studies on mediating effects. This article defines the influence relationship as a directional correlation, elucidating relations between correlation, influence, and causation in terms of denotation and connotation. Risk factors and protective factors are both influence factors of a negative outcome, and the impact increases with the level of a risk factor and decreases with that of a protective factor. We summarize several ways to find evidence for modeling the influence relationship: (1) establishing directionality based on the temporal sequencing of variable occurrences; (2) testing the explanatory power by reversing the order of variables; (3) following the rule that object variables tend to influence subject variables; (4) considering attributes of variables (e.g., essential vs. state attributes, long-term vs. temporary attributes; stable vs. unstable attributes) to predict their influence; (5) gaining evidence from theoretical or empirical literature; (6) obtaining support from life experience and common sense; (7) reasoning through analogies; (8) applying principles of cross-lag analysis to identifying dominant factors. Furthermore, we categorize multiple influence factors working together. These include independent effects, overlapping effects, two types of proxy effects, two types of mediating variables, and three types of moderating variables. These distinctions clarify how different influence factors work together to shape outcomes. Some influence relationships exhibit characteristics akin to causal relationships, while others resemble correlation patterns. The degree to which different studies capture influence relationships close to causation may differ, affecting the quality of the research. Closer proximity to causal relationships enhances the informational value and significance of findings. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Dynamics of parenting behaviors and 5-6-year-old children’s behavioral response during a conflict discussion task PAN Laike, ZHAI Shuyi, HE Jie Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (10): 1340-1350.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01340 Abstract （6474）   HTML （676）    PDF （531KB）（9451）       Knowledge map    Parent-child communication is pivotal in children’s education, with both parties actively engaging in discussion and influencing each other. These daily interactions are widely acknowledged as significant contributors to children's developmental outcomes. While existing research has focused on examining parental effects or bidirectional relations over time, our understanding of child-driven versus parent-driven effects in momentary interactions remains limited. Furthermore, considering that children aged 5 and 6 have gained increased autonomy and self-regulation abilities, it is imperative to examine the dynamic processes within parent-preschooler dyads. In the current study, we used dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) to explore the bidirectional associations between parenting behaviors and child behavioral responses during a conflict discussion task. Our aim is to determine whether the momentary interaction process is primarily driven by parents or by children themselves. The study included 113 Chinese parent-child dyads (59 boys, Mage = 5.81 years). During the laboratory visit, the parent-child dyads were video-recorded engaging in a conflict discussion. Specifically, they were prompted to discuss a negative episode with the potential to lead to conflict in their daily lives. Trained observers rated parental supportive behavior, non-supportive behavior, child positive behavior, and child negative behavior on 4-point scales in 15-second epochs. Also, observers coded the resolution of the conflict discussion as compromise, win-loss, or standoff. For data analysis, we employed DSEM with Bayesian statistics to assess changes in parental parenting behaviors and child behavioral responses in their momentary interactions during the discussion task. Further, we conducted regression analysis to examine the effects of parental and child behaviors on the resolution of the conflict discussion. The findings revealed that: (1) increases in children's negative behavioral responses in a given 15-second epoch predicted increases in parental non-supportive parenting behavior in the next epoch; (2) children's positive behavioral responses primarily predicted the resolution of the conflict discussion, with higher levels of positive behavior in children contributing to more constructive conflict resolution. The current study provides evidence for the child-driven effect in moment-to-moment parent-child communication, highlighting the active role of preschoolers in shaping parent-child interactions. Our findings underscore children as proactive agents in their own socialization process and offer valuable insights for parenting practices. Specifically, parents should be mindful of their own non-supportive parenting behaviors when responding to their children's negative reactions. To achieve constructive conflict resolution, it is crucial for parents to guide their children in developing positive strategies for behavioral regulation. Overall, our findings have practical implications for fostering effective parenting practices and nurturing healthy parent-child relationships. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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“Buddha-like” mentality in workplace: The building of fundamental theory and the empirical test of its validity in Chinese context YAN Yu, FENG Ming, ZHANG Yong Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (5): 594-611.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00594 Abstract （6411）   HTML （508）    PDF （660KB）（9657）       Knowledge map    As a combination of traditional Buddha culture and modern network culture, Buddha-like mentality has been a popular work attitude in the workplace, yet limited scholarly attentions have been paid to investigate this concept, which is partly due to a lack of established scale. This lack, in turn, lead to incomplete understandings of the facets as well as the consequences of employees’ Buddha-like mentality. To construct the framework of Buddha-like mentality and examine its consequences, we used qualitative research and quantitative research in this study. We firstly collected participants’ views on Buddha-like mentality through interviews and questionnaires, and searched the contents related to Buddha-like mentality through the Internet. Secondly, the classical grounded theory was adopted to encode the descriptions derived from open survey, so as to conduct an exploration study on the concept and structural dimensions of the Buddha- like mentality in the working context. Based on this qualitative study and the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), an 18-item questionnaire was compiled according to the structural dimension of Buddha-like mentality. Then we conducted a correlation analysis with a sample of 290 participants to examine the discriminant validities between the Buddha-like mentality and existing concepts. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is conducted to test the construct validity with 478 samples. Finally, a time-lagged study is used to test the predictive validity of Buddha-like mentality with 402 valid matching questionnaires collected from 29 enterprises. The results of grounded theory show that the Buddha-like mentality in the work situation can be divided into four dimensions: unconcerned, satisfied with the status quo, friendly and not argumentative, and letting nature take its course. EFA and CFA of the Buddha-like mentality questionnaire show good reliability and validity, and there is no redundancy of questions. In addition, in the second-order four-factor model, the correlation coefficients of these factors are significant, and all of the standardized loadings of the first-order factor and the second-order factor are significant, which further confirms that the Buddha-like mentality in the workplace is a second-order structure composed of four first-order factors. Correlation analyses show (1) Buddha-like mentality correlates negatively with extraversion, (2) Buddha-like mentality has no significant correlation with agreeableness. The prediction validity study shows (1) Buddha-like mentality has a significant negative impact on creativity, (2) Buddha-like mentality has a significant positive impact on workplace well-being, (3) The impact of Buddha-like mentality on job performance is not significant. These findings enrich the scholarly understandings of Buddha-like mentality and offer a reliable instrument for the assessment of Buddha-like mentality, which may benefit much for future studies on this concept. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Trend analysis of marital satisfaction of Chinese couples in the past 20 years HOU Juan, JIA Keke, FANG Xiaoyi Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (7): 895-910.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00895 Abstract （6274）   HTML （281）    PDF （632KB）（30502）       Knowledge map    Marriage is the most stable and lasting traditional form of sexual union in human society and an important part of human culture. Marriage satisfaction is a main indicator for measuring marital success. Marriage satisfaction is affected by social, family, individual and other factors and changes in response to society, family and individuals. Thus, changes in marital satisfaction reflect continuous changes in society. Exploring the relationship between marital satisfaction and social change has important reference significance for understanding psychological changes in Chinese society and individuals. This cross-temporal meta-analysis assessed 92 studies (59122 husbands and wives) published between 2000 and 2021 that used the Evaluating & Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication, Happiness (enrich), the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT) and the Quality of Marriage Index (QMI) to measure the marital satisfaction of Chinese couples. The China Comprehensive Social Survey (CGSS) analysis was used to discuss the relationship between social indicators and marital satisfaction based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystem theory. The findings are as follows: (1) the marital satisfaction of Chinese couples significantly positively correlates with the year; (2) at the macro level, improving people's quality of life and reducing the household size will increase marriage satisfaction; while, increasing marital satisfaction will promote the pursuit of a better life among couples and maintain family stability and (3) at the micro level, regarding the association between marital satisfaction and social change, the length of marriage, gender, number of children, and the matching degree of education level do not affect marital satisfaction; however, changes due to the presence of children and the degree of education do. In the model of the relationship between social change and marital satisfaction, macro system factors, micro system factors and era changes interact and jointly affect marital satisfaction. Moreover, marital satisfaction will also react to macrosystem factors and promote the harmonious and stable development of society. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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When AI “possesses” personality: Roles of good and evil personalities influence moral judgment in large language models JIAO Liying, LI Chang-Jin, CHEN Zhen, XU Hengbin, XU Yan Acta Psychologica Sinica    2025, 57 (6): 929-946.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.0929 Abstract （6137）   HTML （478）    PDF （1204KB）（11989）       Knowledge map    The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding the moral decision-making capabilities of large language models (LLMs). One intriguing aspect is the potential for LLMs to exhibit characteristics akin to human personalities, which may influence the LLMs’ moral judgment. Understanding how personality traits, especially the moral traits, influence these decisions is crucial for developing AI systems that align with human ethical standards. Therefore, this study aims to explore how the roles of good and evil personalities shape the moral decision-making of LLMs, providing insights that are essential for the ethical development of AI. This study investigated the roles of good and evil personalities in shaping the moral decision-making of the ERNIE 4.0 and GPT-4. Good personality was characterized by traits such as conscientiousness and integrity, altruism and dedication, benevolence and amicability, and tolerance and magnanimity. Evil personality encompassed traits such as atrociousness and mercilessness, mendacity and hypocrisy, calumniation and circumvention, and faithlessness and treacherousness. Study 1 analyzed 4000 observations. Specific prompts corresponding to different personality dimensions were designed. After specifying the type of personality, ERNIE 4.0 completed a self-report scale for good and evil personalities, evaluated whether the descriptions matched the current personality traits and provided a numerical rating indicating the degree of agreement. Study 2 recruited 370 human participants and utilized 832 LLM observations, investigated the roles of good and evil personalities in shaping the moral decision-making of the LLMs and compared with human results. Significant score differences were observed across all eight personality dimensions, with high-level manipulations significantly higher than low-level manipulations. These results demonstrate LLMs’ ability to express levels of good and evil personality traits. A comparative analysis was conducted between human participants and LLMs to evaluate the impact of these traits on CAN model in Study 2. Results showed that the patterns of personality’s influence on moral judgment exhibited both similarities and differences between LLMs and humans. GPT-4's good personality manipulation aligns closely with human results, while ERNIE 4.0 scored higher than humans on sensitivity to consequences (C), sensitivity to moral norms (N), overall action/inaction preferences (A) parameters, and utilitarianism (U). GPT-4 demonstrated better moral alignment compared to ERNIE 4.0. Furthermore, a theoretical model of good and evil personality traits in LLMs was constructed within the domain of moral judgment. This study demonstrated that LLMs effectively simulated varying levels of good and evil personality traits through personality prompts, which significantly influenced their moral judgments. GPT-4’s moral judgments aligned more closely with humans under good personality prompts, while ERNIE 4.0 consistently scored higher than humans across moral judgment indicators. Under evil personality prompts, GPT-4 exhibited lower moral norm sensitivity and higher action tendency and utilitarianism. Additionally, the influence of personality on GPT-4’s moral judgment was stronger than on ERNIE 4.0. The impact of good and evil personalities on moral judgment showed hierarchical differences, with good personality traits, particularly conscientiousness, playing a more critical role in achieving human-AI alignment in moral judgments. This research provided valuable insights into enhancing AI ethical decision-making by integrating nuanced personality traits, guiding the development of more socially responsible AI systems. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The associations between parent-child value conflict in filial piety and adolescent depressive symptoms GUO Xiaolin, ZHANG Yifan, GUAN Yuelin, LUO Liang Acta Psychologica Sinica    2025, 57 (1): 58-70.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.0058 Abstract （5806）   HTML （924）    PDF （2677KB）（9190）       Knowledge map    As one of the core values of Chinese culture, filial piety is an important value norm for maintaining parent‒child relationships and supporting family functioning, which has an important impact on the well-being of children. The value of filial piety may be conflictive between the parents and children in a family, and its psychological influences on children are unknown. Given that depression is a prominent and frequent emotional problem in adolescents and that family pressure stemming from the parent‒child relationship is a major risk factor for adolescent depression, this study aimed to explore the relationship between parent‒child value conflict in filial piety and adolescent depression. Given that adolescents tend to take their same-sex parents as role models, parent and child gender differences were also considered. Longitudinal data from 3321 adolescents (1692 boys, 1629 girls; average age = 10.87 ± 0.36 years) and their fathers and mothers were collected when the adolescents were in 5th and 7th grades. In the first wave, after providing informed consent, both the adolescents and their fathers and mothers reported their concept of filial piety. In the second wave, both adolescents and their fathers and mothers reported their levels of depression. Polynomial regression and response surface analysis were used to explore the relationship between parent‒child value conflict in filial piety and adolescent depression. SPSS 22.0, Mplus 7.1, and MATLAB 2022b were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that (1) when parents’ and adolescents’ filial piety were not conflictive, the levels of fathers’ and sons’ reciprocal filial piety and authoritarian filial piety, mothers’ and sons’ reciprocal filial piety and authoritarian filial piety, fathers’ and daughters’ reciprocal filial piety and authoritarian filial piety and mothers’ and daughters’ reciprocal filial piety and authoritarian filial piety did not significantly predict adolescents’ depression. (2) When parents’ and adolescents’ filial piety were conflictive, the direction of value conflict between fathers’ and sons’ reciprocal filial piety predicted the sons’ depression. The direction of value conflict between fathers’ and daughters’ reciprocal filial piety, fathers’ and daughters’ authoritarian filial piety, mothers’ and daughters’ reciprocal filial piety and mothers’ and daughters’ authoritarian filial piety predicted the daughters’ depression. Moreover, the degree of value conflict between fathers’ and sons’ authoritarian filial piety predicted sons’ depression. The degree of value conflict between fathers’ and daughters’ authoritarian filial piety, mothers’ and daughters’ reciprocal filial piety and mothers’ and daughters’ authoritarian filial piety predicted the daughters’ depression. The results indicate that when parents and children reach a consensus on filial piety, the type and level of filial piety are not related to adolescents’ depression, but the value conflict between fathers’ and sons’ filial piety and parents’ and daughters’ filial piety may induce adolescents’ depression. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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How gifts convey love? The influence of feasible and desirable gifts on mating intention LI Shihao, LUAN Mo, LI Hong, FU Guoqun Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (11): 1524-1540.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01524 Abstract （5792）   HTML （857）    PDF （522KB）（7535）       Knowledge map    Mating behavior is an important research topic. Gift is a crucial medium for conveying information and intimacy. However, previous literature on mating behavior has rarely explored how gifts affect mating intention. Moreover, most previous studies on gift-giving have been limited to the influence of gifts on general interpersonal relationships, and rarely focused on mate selection or courtship situations. The current research examined the influence of gift category (feasible vs. desirable) on the recipient's mating intention and its inner psychological mechanism. The current research proposed that recipients would show higher mating intention for the wooer who sent the feasible gift (vs. desirable gift), because the feasible gift represents a higher level of psychological closeness between the gift giver and receiver. Joint (vs. separate) consumption moderates this effect. Across 6 studies, including one field study, our research provided empirical support for these predictions. Study 1 adopted a within-subject design, and 65 participants were recruited. Participants were first asked to imagine they were single and two wooers sent them two gifts on their birthday. They then saw two scenarios, a pen scenario and a shopping card scenario. In both two scenarios, two wooers sent feasible or desirable gifts, which were checked and chosen as stimuli by pre-study (N = 48). The feasible pen was practical and easily portable but mediocre in aesthetics. The desirable pen was state of the art and fancy, but not very portable due to its weightiness. The feasible shopping card was for a 4-stars dessert shop, which was about a 5-min walk away. The desirable card was for a 5-stars dessert shop, which was about 1 hour drive away. After reading these materials, participants indicated their mating preference between the two gift givers. The results indicated that participants showed high mating intention for the gift-giver who sent feasible gift, both in pen and shopping card scenario. Study 2 was a one-factor (feasible vs. desirable gift) between-subject design (N = 265). Participants imagined they received a dessert shop card as a gift from a wooer, and then were randomly assigned to feasible or desirable gift condition. The gift information was the similar with Study 1 except that the feasible card was for a 3.5-stars dessert shop, and the desirable card was half an hour drive away. Participants were then asked to indicate their mating intention and perceived psychological closeness to the gift-giver. Lastly, their age, gender, relationship status were collected as control variables. Results replicated the findings of Study 1, and the mediating role of psychological closeness was supported. In Study 3, we changed the manipulation of gift category to rule out knowledge extent and perceived exclusiveness as possible explanations. Specifically, Study 3 was a one-factor (feasible vs. desirable gift) between-subject design (N = 257), and the feasible gift was a ticket for an exhibition which has a certain popularity on social media, and there was no specific time limit for the ticket. Visitors can use it any time. Contrastly, the desirable gift was a ticket for an exhibition which was extremely popular on social media, but the time slot for this ticket was 7:30 am on Monday. Via two pre-studies, the manipulation for feasibility and desirability was successful and the attraction for these two gifts kept the same. The procedure of this study was similar with Study 2, except that we measured social status inference and price as another two possible explanations. The results supported psychological closeness as mediator rather than other variables. Study 4 was designed to further examine the underlying role of perceived thoughtfulness and perceived closeness. It was a one-factor (feasible vs. desirable gift) between-subject design (N = 242). The procedure was the same as Study 2 except that we measured participants’ perceived thoughtfulness and how much they were certain to consume the gift following perceived closeness. Results revealed that perceived thoughtfulness and perceived closeness played the chain mediating role of the effect of feasible (vs. desirable gift) on mating intention. Furthermore, this mediating effect still existed after controlling consumption certainty. Study 5 examined the moderating role of joint consumption, and was a 2 (feasible vs. desirable gift) ×2 (joint vs. separate consumption) between-subject design (N = 254). Participants imagined they received a painting course as a gift from a wooer and then randomly assigned to one of four conditions. The manipulation of gift category was similar with Study 2. As for the consumption process, in the joint consumption condition, participants were told that the course was for two persons, and the receiver would consume it with the gift-giver jointly. In separate consumption condition, participants were told that the course was only for one person. We then measured mating intention and psychological closeness. Mediated moderation was supported by the results. Study 6 was a field study and we conducted a “Gift Represents You” single youth dating activity (N = 204). Participants were randomly assigned “gift-giver” or “gift-receiver”. Each gift-giver was asked to choose one gift (50 ~ 200 RMB) and write some descriptive sentences (100 ~ 250 words), and the receiver was asked to rate 10 gifts indicating his/her mating intention to the gift-giver. Each gift would be rated by 10 receivers. Two separate coders coded the level of feasibility and desirability of each gift according to the gift and its descriptive sentences. We examined both ANOVA and regression, and the results were replicated again in the field setting. Overall, the current research is the first to explore the impact of gift on the recipient's mating intention, with focusing not only on the gift itself, but also on the subsequent consumption process of the gift. Our findings contribute to the mating behavior literature as well as the gift-giving literature. Besides, the current research explores the relationship between construal level and psychological distance from the perspective of mate selection behavior, which is new for construal level theory. 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The transition of latent classes of children’s learning engagement in primary school against the background of the “double reduction” policy YANG Jingyuan, YU Xiao, ZHANG Jingyi, LU Lifei, YANG Zhihui Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (3): 295-310.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00295 Abstract （5657）   HTML （703）    PDF （877KB）（8279）       Knowledge map    Learning engagement, an important indicator of the learning process, has garnered extensive attention. Developmental contextualism and the integrative model of engagement posit that the interaction between individuals and environmental factors results in heterogeneous learning engagement development among individuals. Previous studies have demonstrated learning engagement heterogeneity among primary school students. However, in the context of the “double reduction” policy, the dynamic development of children’s learning engagement remains unclear. Moreover, positive parenting style, teacher-student relationships, and peer relationships, as important environmental factors, may predict children’s learning engagement transitions. Thus, this study adopts a people-centered research method to address these issues from a longitudinal perspective. This study recruited participants from three ordinary public primary schools in Shandong Province, China. Participants at T1 (June 2021, before the implementation of the “double reduction” policy) were 378 children (164 boys; mean age: 9.97 ± 0.91 years old). Participants at T2 (December 2021, six months after the implementation of the policy) were 357 primary school students (155 boys; mean age: 10.50 ± 0.94 years old). Participants at T3 (June 2022, a year after the implementation of the policy) were 347 primary school students (147 boys; mean age: 10.97 ± 0.91 years old). Students completed the Children’s Learning Engagement Scale (at T1, T2, and T3), Short-form Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (at T1 and T2), Student Teacher Relationship Scale (at T1 and T2) and Children’s Peer Relationship Scales (at T1 and T2) during the three measurements. Latent profile analysis and latent transition analysis were employed in this study to explore children’s potential learning engagement subtypes and examine transitions between different subtypes across the three waves. Multiple logistic regressions were also used to investigate the impact of various environmental factors (i.e., positive parenting style, student−teacher relationships, and peer relationships) on the latent transitions of different learning engagement subtypes. All data were analyzed by SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.0. The results revealed four distinct subgroups of learning engagement among primary school students: the “Low Engaged”, “Moderately Engaged”, “High Absorption with Vigorous Disengagement”, and “Highly Engaged” groups. In addition, due to the “double reduction” policy, students in the “Moderately Engaged” and “Highly Engaged” groups displayed relative stability, while those in the “Highly Disengaged” group tended to transition toward the “Moderately Engaged” group. Regarding the “High Absorption with Vigorous Disengagement” group, the findings indicated a higher likelihood of transitioning to the “Moderately Engaged” group from T1 to T2; however, from T2 to T3, these students were more likely to remain in their original subgroup. Moreover, the study identified the varying roles of different environmental factors in children’s learning engagement subgroups. Specifically, under the “double reduction” policy, positive parenting style and teacher−student relationships exhibited robust effects on children’s learning engagement transitions. The predictive effects of teacher-student relationships varied across different learning engagement subtypes among primary school students. Additionally, the study found that peer relationships had a positive influence on the transition of children within the “Moderately Engaged” group following the implementation of the “double reduction” policy. This study provides the first evidence of heterogeneity and dynamic changes in learning engagement among Chinese primary school students, which indicates that following the implementation of the “double reduction” policy, family-school-collaborative education has made initial progress. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the dynamic development of learning engagement among primary school students but also provide empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of the “double reduction” policy implementation. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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How semantic prosody is acquired in novel word learning: Evidence from the “Double-Jujube Tree” effect WU Shiyu, LI Zan Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (5): 531-541.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00531 Abstract （5655）   HTML （670）    PDF （747KB）（7211）       Knowledge map    Generally, a word’s meaning consists of at least two components. The first is denotative meaning, representing the definitional meaning found in dictionaries and serving as the word’s fundamental meaning. The second component involves semantics that a word “absorbs” from its linguistic context, not constrained by definitions; this is known as semantic prosody, described as a consistent aura of meaning with which a form is imbued by its collocates. While theories and empirical studies have shed light on mechanisms supporting the acquisition of the first word meaning component, the acquisition of the connotative meaning engendered by semantic prosody has been overlooked. It remains unclear whether readers can unconsciously acquire the semantic prosody (or emotional connotations) of a novel word after encountering it consistently in a context with a strong emotional polarity. Against this backdrop, we conducted a word learning experiment, manipulating context emotionality (negative vs. neutral vs. positive) and context variability (same-repeated vs. varied contexts) as crucial contextual variables. This aimed to address two understudied questions in vocabulary acquisition: (1) Does transfer of affect to a word from its linguistic context take place through reading exposures, facilitating the acquisition of semantic prosody for the word? If so, is such transfer influenced by context variability? (2) Does the emotionality of context affect the acquisition of word forms and meanings, and is this acquisition modulated by context variability? This experiment involved two sessions: a reading-and-learning phase and a testing phase. During the reading-and-learning session, participants read emotionally charged passages, simultaneously learning embedded target words. The testing session included an immediate posttest, incorporating four vocabulary tests—valence rating, orthographic choice, definition matching, and definition generation. A total of 196 Chinese speakers participated in the experiment. Mixed-effects models were utilized to analyze data from the valence rating task and the other three vocabulary knowledge tests. The findings revealed that, within the same-repeated context, manipulating context emotionality (positive vs. neutral vs. negative) significantly influenced valence ratings, showing significantly higher ratings in the positive condition compared to neutral and negative conditions. Conversely, in the varied context, no significant differences in valence ratings were observed. This result supports the hypothesis of the “Double-Jujube Tree” effect, emphasizing the effect of repetitive texts compared to multiple texts. However, in the varied context, valence ratings played a role in influencing participants’ performances in the vocabulary tests, leading to better outcomes as valence ratings increased. In the same-repeated context, valence ratings had minimal effect on accuracy in the orthographic choice test and the definition prompting test. We posit that the effective mechanism for learning the semantic-prosody-engendered connotations of words involves the transfer of affect from their collocations. However, this transfer seems to be contingent on context variability, occurring only in the same-repeated context and not in the varied context. Furthermore, we illustrate that the emotionality of context influences the quality of both orthographic and semantic word learning, with words being better learned in positive contexts as opposed to negative or neutral ones. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Influence of group information on facial expression recognition WANG Weihan, CAO Feizhen, YU Linwei, ZENG Ke, YANG Xinchao, XU Qiang Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (3): 268-280.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00268 Abstract （5487）   HTML （613）    PDF （727KB）（7973）       Knowledge map    Emotions surface during interaction between individuals. Thus, an accurate recognition of facial expressions is essential in the realm of social interactions. In recent years, numerous studies have revealed that individuals not only depend on facial configuration information for identifying facial expressions but also place considerable emphasis on contextual information extracted from external cues beyond the face. People’s behavior frequently unfolds within intricate social group dynamics, wherein individuals often perceive and interpret the facial expressions of their fellow group members during interaction. However, the impact of group information on facial expression recognition, being an essential social contextual factor, remains somewhat unclear. Hence, three experiments were conducted to investigate the influence exerted by group information on the recognition of facial expressions. The stimuli used in the study were happy, fearful, and neutral face images selected from the NimStim set, including 15 pictures (seven females) of each of the aforementioned emotions. Group information was manipulated following the presentation of a fixation cross through perceptual cues. Subsequently, during the facial expression recognition phase, participants were instructed to recognize the facial expressions exhibited by target individuals. In the first experiment, participants were instructed to rate the intensity of target facial expressions on a six- emotion scale, and the surrounding facial expressions were always congruent with the target facial expressions. A total of 29 college students (16 females, mean age 20.00 ± 1.80 years) were recruited to participate in this experiment. In Experiments 2 and 3, we manipulated the emotional congruency between the surrounding faces and the target faces during the facial expression recognition phase. Additionally, we controlled for variations in physical characteristics across different experimental conditions. The task requirement of Experiment 2 was the same as that of Experiment 1. However, in Experiment 3, participants were instructed to judge the target facial expressions by pressing corresponding keys on the keyboard as quickly and accurately as possible. A total of 26 college students (14 females, mean age 21.15 ± 1.99 years) participated in Experiment 2, and 32 college students (15 females, mean age 21.20 ± 1.60 years) participated in Experiment 3. Results revealed the following: (1) Compared with emotion-incongruent conditions, emotional congruency between target faces and surrounding faces resulted in shorter RTs and higher accuracy. (2) Group information regulated the influence of surrounding facial expressions on target facial expression recognition. Specifically, under group conditions, participants tended to recognize target facial expressions according to the emotional state of the surrounding faces. When the target facial expressions in line with the expectations established by the participants that group members have congruent emotional state, the recognition of target facial expressions was faster and more accurate than incongruent conditions. However, under nongroup conditions, participants recognized target facial expressions without reference to the emotional states of the surrounding faces. (3) Participants exhibited a faster and more accurate recognition of happy faces, indicating the recognition advantage effect for happy facial expressions. Results revealed that group information influenced facial expression recognition, individuals recognized facial expressions based on the social relationship between the interactions, and understanding social interaction plays an important role in the process of emotion perception. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Multicultural experiences enhance human altruism toward robots and the mediating role of mind perception TENG Yue, ZHANG Haotian, ZHAO Siqi, PENG Kaiping, HU Xiaomeng Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (2): 146-160.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00146 Abstract （5442）   HTML （547）    PDF （589KB）（9047）       Knowledge map    Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, and the future of human beings is closely related to it. The question of how humans and robots can better work together has become a pressing concern for social psychologists. Human-robot interaction is a two-way process, and research has explored how robots can better serve humans. Whether humans share the same moral concern or even act altruistically toward robots is critical, as it will feed into technological advances and the stability of human society. Few studies have examined which cultural and psychological factors shape people's willingness and behavior to accord robots moral status, i.e., whether they are believed to deserve the same rights and benefits as humans and to perform more altruistic acts toward them. Through two sub-studies and a causal study, the present work seeks to explore whether individuals' multicultural experiences enhance altruistic behavior toward robots and whether human mental perceptions of robots play a mediating role. Study 1a began with a cross-sectional study in which 217 valid participants with an average age of 25.64 years were collected in China through the Questionnaire Star platform to measure their multicultural experiences, altruistic behavior toward robots, mind perceptions, and demographic information. To verify the model's cross-cultural generalizability that multicultural experiences enhance altruistic behavior toward robots, Study 1b replicated the procedure of Study 1a on Mturk with 313 valid participants (mean age 33.94 years) using the English version of the questionnaire from Study 1a. Finally, to infer the causal relationship between multicultural experiences and altruistic behavior toward robots, Study 2 recruited Chinese participants with six months or more of overseas experiences to prime participants' multicultural experiences through reading and writing tasks. A total of 249 valid data were collected in Study 2, with a mean age of 25.96 years, and participants were randomly divided into a multicultural experience priming group, hometown experience priming group, and control group. After priming, participants were asked to fill out the manipulation check scale, the Mind Perception Scale, and the Altruistic Behavior Toward Robots Questionnaire, with the order of the three measures presented randomly. Finally, participants reported their information on a number of demographic variables. Study 1a found that individuals' multicultural experiences positively predicted altruistic behavior toward robots, with mind perceptions playing a partially mediating role. Study 1b found that this mediating chain was cross-culturally consistent across Chinese and Western participants, with no Chinese or Western cultural differences. We infer that this effect has some degree of cultural generalizability. Study 2 found that multicultural experiences were manipulated successfully, but the main effect of multicultural experiences on altruistic behavior toward robots did not reach significance. The current work reveals that individuals’ multicultural experiences increase altruistic behavior toward robots. Specifically, the richer an individual's multicultural experiences, the more likely they are to perceive the robots as possessing mental perception. Thus, they are more likely to trigger altruistic behavior toward robots. At the same time, this effect is to some extent cross-culturally generalizable. The results of our studies enrich the theoretical predictions of multicultural experiences, identify possible “downstream effects” of multicultural experiences, and make an original contribution to the study of what factors enhance human altruistic behavior toward robots. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics