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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 （6271）   HTML （281）    PDF （632KB）（30488）       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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More utilitarian and less rational? Social change and two types of individualism over the last 40 years in China WU Michael Shengtao, WANG Yuling, PENG Kaiping Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (7): 911-925.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00911 Abstract （3463）   HTML （218）    PDF （800KB）（30211）       Knowledge map    Individualism appears to have increased along with modernization and globalization, yet it is a great debate whether such a cultural shift fell in the value discrepancy between the independence-focused rational individualism and the interest-focused utilitarian individualism, especially in fast-changing societies like China. Based on expert interview, self-report survey, and open-question analysis (pilot study), the pilot study established a reliable and valid dictionary of rational individualism and utilitarian individualism, finding that rational (vs. utilitarian) individualism prevailed in responses to questions about rational individualism, and vice versa. Furthermore, based on word counting (Study 1) and word embedding (Study 2) analyses of Chinese version of Google Books Ngram (1980~2019), the present research was designed to test the effect of social change on rational individualism and utilitarian individualism. We hypothesized that (1) rational individualism decreased while utilitarian individualism increased from 1980 through 2019, and that (2) the semantic association between self and rational (vs. utilitarian) individualism decreased over the past 40 years. As expected, Study 1 revealed that the usage of rational individualism decreased, while that of utilitarian individualism increased over time; and via the single-target Word Embedding Association Test (WEAT), Study 2 revealed that the semantic similarity between the target words about self (e.g., I, self) and attribute words about rational (vs. utilitarian) individualism decreased over time. Taken together, the results demonstrate the cultural shift of the increase in utilitarian individualism and decrease in rational individualism over the past 40 years in China, whereas both rational enlightenment and utilitarian expansion serve as psychological drives in the development of modern societies. It was suggested that the value discrepancy of rational and utilitarian individualism should be seriously concerned, and that further work is needed on multiple selves, cultural evolution, and psychological function of the two types of individualism. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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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 （10923）   HTML （1538）    PDF （554KB）（22665）       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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“Neijuan” in China: The psychological concept and its characteristic dimensions ZHANG Wen, PAN Chao, YAO Shiming, ZHU Jiajia, LING Dong, YANG Hanchun, XU Jingsha, MU Yan Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (1): 107-123.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00107 Abstract （13422）   HTML （1476）    PDF （745KB）（20854）       Knowledge map    With the deepening and spread of reform and opening-up, China has undergone rapid and unprecedented economic growth and societal transformations over the past few decades. Accumulating evidence has revealed the impacts of sociocultural changes on Chinese mental health. Since 2020, a popular buzzword, “Neijuan” (involution), has garnered significant attention and discussion in daily life. Neijuan could be traced back to agricultural involution, which refers to a process of inward over-elaboration in agricultural development. This concept was first identified by the anthropologist Geertz (1963), who observed that population growth failed to enhance productivity growth and economic development. Despite Neijuan's growing attention, it is still unclear about the connotation and characteristic dimensions of this social phenomenon. Cultural psychology provides a solid theoretical and empirical basis for exploring how social and cultural changes affect individuals’ psychological states and behaviors. In this context, we propose that Neijuan is a multidimensional psychological concept of great significance in this new era, closely connected to cultural changes in China’s rapid development and growth. To explore the psychological concept of Neijuan, Study 1 employed a grounded theory approach through in-depth interviews to clarify the intricate psychological components of Neijuan. Based on the results of Study 1, Studies 2 and 3 developed a measurement tool to validate the multiple characteristic dimensions of Neijuan in Chinese culture, utilizing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings suggested that Neijuan comprises four dimensions: resource scarcity, social norm, psychological pressure, and competition. Subsequently, Study 4 used Neijuan scenario-based task in the university and workplace environments to assess participants’ behavioral tendencies related to Neijuan and examined the relationship between individuals’ perceptions of Neijuan and their actual behaviors. Results revealed that individuals with higher levels of perceived Nejuan exhibited a greater tendency to engage in behaviors associated with Neijuan. In summary, the series of studies sought to explore the psychological concept and multiple characteristic dimensions of Neijuan, which provides a theoretical and empirical basis for understanding this significant phenomenon in the contemporary era. The current research also offers an effective measurement tool to assess individuals’ perception of Neijuan and enlightens future research on the effect of Neijuan on psychological maladjustment and non-benign competition behaviors related to Neijuan. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Associations between empathy and negative affect: Effect of emotion regulation GUO Xiaodong, ZHENG Hong, RUAN Dun, HU Dingding, WANG Yi, WANG Yanyu, Raymond C. K. CHAN Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (6): 892-904.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.00892 Abstract （13918）   HTML （1325）    PDF （1267KB）（20830）       Knowledge map    Empathy refers to understanding, inferring and sharing others’ emotional states, which can be divided into affective and cognitive components. Although empathy contributes to prosocial behaviors and harmonious interpersonal relationships, it also increases an individual’s negative emotional experiences and affect distress. Emotion regulation, the psychological process of managing one’s own emotions, has been found to be closely associated with empathy. Cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression are two commonly used strategies to regulate emotions, of which cognitive reappraisal is effective in reducing negative emotional experiences while expressive suppression is usually correlated with more affective distress. However, the roles of emotion regulation strategies in the empathic response are still unclear. We conducted two studies to investigate the roles of emotion regulation on the negative affect related to empathy using self-report questionnaires and experimental task respectively. Study 1 administered the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) to 442 college students. The moderating effects of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression on the association between empathy and negative affect were examined separately. Study 2 adopted the Chinese version of the Empathic Accuracy Task (EAT) to further examine the effect of emotion regulation (i.e. cognitive reappraisal) on cognitive empathy and affective responses. The EAT requires participants to continuously rate targets’ emotional valence in video clips as a second person and rate emotional valence and arousal of both targets and themselves after each video. Seventy-five participants (33 for experiment 1 and 42 for experiment 2) were recruited to perform the EAT under two conditions, i.e., naturally viewing without any instructions and applying cognitive reappraisal while viewing the scenarios. Paired sample t tests and repeated-measure ANOVA were performed to examine the effect of cognitive reappraisal on task performance. Findings from Study 1 showed that affective empathy was significantly correlated with higher levels of anxiety and stress, while empathic concern was correlated with less anxiety, stress and depression. However, when participants endorsed cognitive reappraisal more frequently, such positive association between affective empathy and stress was reduced, while the negative association between empathic concern and anxiety was strengthened. Cognitive empathy was significantly correlated with reduced depression. Expressive suppression strengthened the negative association between cognitive empathy and depression. Moreover, negative correlations between cognitive empathy and anxiety as well as stress emerged for participants endorsing cognitive reappraisal more frequently. Findings from Study 2 showed that task performances of the EAT were significantly improved when participants endorsed cognitive reappraisal strategy compared to the condition of naturally viewing. Specifically, under the cognitive reappraisal condition participants scored higher empathic accuracy, experienced less negative affect in reaction to others’ affect distress, and experienced more positive affect in reaction to others’ positive emotions. Taken together, the findings from these two studies suggested that both cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression play a protective role in the associations between empathy and negative affect, and the endorsement of cognitive reappraisal would improve task performance on both cognitive and affective empathy. Our findings shed light on the psychological mechanisms of empathy and provide new approach for improving individuals’ social cognitive ability, especially for early intervention in clinical and subclinical populations. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Autistic traits influence pain empathy: The mediation role of pain-related negative emotion and cognition ZHANG Wenyun, ZHUO Shiwei, ZHENG Qianqian, GUAN Yinglin, PENG Weiwei Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (9): 1501-1517.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.01501 Abstract （5598）   HTML （941）    PDF （1584KB）（18481）       Knowledge map    Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are typically characterized by impaired social interactions that are thought to be related to deficits in empathy. While cognitive empathy deficit in ASD is widely recognized, it remains controversial whether individuals with ASD have a deficiency in emotional empathy. According to the shared representation theory, psychological and neuronal mechanisms involved in the personal experience of an emotional or somatosensory state are also engaged while empathizing with other individuals in those states. It suggests that the deficits of empathy seen in the ASD population could arise from the atypical experience of first-hand pain. Mild, subclinical forms of the characteristics associated with ASD are referred to as autistic traits. Individuals with high autistic traits exhibit sensory, emotional, and social behaviors similar to those with ASD. Given the relationship between pain empathy and first-hand pain as well as the similarity between autistic traits and ASD, the present study tested the hypothesis that autistic traits in the general population would influence pain empathic responses, which could be contributed by first-hand pain-related profiles. In Experiment 1, we adopted an ecological pain empathy paradigm and compared behavioral and neural activity between individuals with high scores on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient Test (HAQ, with high autistic traits) and those with low scores (LAQ, with low autistic traits). During the pain empathy paradigm, the participants either perceived the painful electrical stimuli themselves or witnessed the delivery of painful electrical stimuli to their partners in certain and uncertain contexts. When perceiving pain themselves, behavioral and brain responses were comparable between HAQ and LAQ groups. When witnessing others in pain, participants in the HAQ group had greater amplitudes of the P2 component on the event-related potentials and reported higher ratings of unpleasantness than those in the LAQ group. The between-group differences in the behavioral and neural responses related to pain empathy were not moderated by certainty of the context (certain or uncertain). Mediation analysis further revealed that the between-group differences in the unpleasantness elicited by witnessing others’ pain could be contributed by the greater fear of pain while anticipating the upcoming painful stimuli. In Experiment 2, the relationship among autistic traits, pain-related profiles, and trait empathy was assessed in randomly recruited participants. We found that autistic trait levels were negatively correlated with scores on the perspective-taking subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and positively correlated with the personal distress subscale. Importantly, pain-related fear and pain catastrophizing mediated the link between autistic traits and personal distress. Data from Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that autistic traits heighten emotional empathy, which can be explained by the negative emotion and cognition toward pain. Given the similarities between individuals with high autistic traits and ASD, this finding may help to expand the biological mechanisms underlying ASD, such as explaining empathy deficits or other social difficulties seen in the ASD from the perspective of atypical pain-related profiles. Future studies should combine multiple modalities of painful stimulations and multidimensional pain assessments to comprehensively characterize pain-related profiles among individuals with high autistic traits or ASD, and establish linkage between pain-related profiles and empathy or social deficits. This understanding has the potential to provide targets for clinical interventions and treatments of ASD. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The influence of positive co-experience on teacher-student relationship: The mediating role of emotional bonding DING Yuting, ZHANG Chang, LI Ranran, DING Wenyu, ZHU Jing, LIU Wei, CHEN Ning Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (5): 726-739.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.00726 Abstract （9200）   HTML （764）    PDF （826KB）（16562）       Knowledge map    The teacher-student relationship is a key factor that contributes to educational activities and has hence long been considered an important topic in the field of educational practice and research. Previous studies have found that co-experience improves the development of interpersonal relationships. However, the question remains of whether positive co-experience has the same effect on the quality of teacher-student relationships. The current research aims to investigate the impact of positive co-experience on teacher-student relationships and the underlying mechanism. Building on previous studies, two main hypotheses are proposed: Firstly, that positive co-experience effectively promotes the development of teacher-student relationships (H1); secondly, that this effect is mediated by emotional bonding (H2). Three studies have been conducted to test these hypotheses (H1 & H2). In study 1, a total of 1, 273 students were invited to complete a questionnaire exploring aspects of positive co-experience, positive emotional bonding, teacher-student relationships, and a self-assessment of academic performance. In study 2, all students in a middle school in Shanghai were enrolled as research subjects. Taking each class as a unit, we randomly divided students into three groups. A mixed experimental design of 2 (time: pre-test vs. post-test) × 3 (positive co-experience type: sharing and recall group vs. simple recall group vs. normal group) was adopted. In the pre-test, all subjects in three groups were asked to complete the questionnaires. The students and their teachers would then take part in a sports festival, which was designed to foster positive co-experience within teacher-student relationships. The researchers took photos during this process and made a photo album for the enrolled students and teachers. In the post-test, all three groups were required to complete the questionnaire: students in the “sharing and recall group” were required to complete the questionnaire after reviewing the album of their shared experience with their teachers. “the simple recall group” was asked to complete the questionnaire after reviewing the album with their teachers without sharing experience with their teachers; and the normal group, as a control, completed the questionnaire directly. In study 3, 152 middle school students were invited to participate. We divided them into four groups and conducted a mixed experimental design grid with dimensions of 4 (positive co-experience type: recall vs. imagination vs. example vs. control) × 2 (teacher category: specific teacher vs. group teacher). The four groups of subjects were then required to complete tasks assessing the psychological distance and positive emotional bonding between themselves, a specific teacher, and the group teacher, respectively. They were then graded for “the vignette task”. In conclusion, the results of these studies congruently indicate that positive co-experience has a stable facilitatory effect on teacher-student relationships, and further, that positive emotional bonding plays a mediating role in the relationship between positive co-experience and teacher-student relationships. Further, sharing can promote the level of positive emotional bonding between teachers and students, and the positive co-experience of imagination, recall, and example can improve the level of positive emotional bonding between teenage students and their teachers. We also found that the positive aspect of the teacher-student relationship can be transferred to the group relationship between teachers and students. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Association between childhood maltreatment and empathy: A three-level meta-analytic review MENG Xianxin, YU Delin, CHEN Yijing, ZHANG Lin, FU Xiaolan Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (8): 1285-1300.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.01285 Abstract （5014）   HTML （588）    PDF （1237KB）（15616）       Knowledge map    A considerable number of studies have discussed the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy, but the results have been mixed. Theoretically, there are four main arguments regarding the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy. Attachment theory suggests that childhood maltreatment predisposes individuals to an insecure attachment style that is detrimental to empathy development. The facial feedback hypothesis and “like-me” hypothesis suggest that neglected children have fewer opportunities to imitate others’ facial expressions, and show deficits in empathy. However, the perception-action model argues that individuals with childhood maltreatment are more likely to empathize with others who have traumatic experiences, while the Russian doll model implies that the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy may not be linear. Empirically, current research has reported an inconsistent correlation between childhood maltreatment and empathy, with r values ranging from −0.451 to 0.86. Therefore, the present meta-analysis aimed to estimate the extent to which childhood maltreatment is associated with empathy and whether these associations vary depending on the study or sample characteristics such as the type of childhood maltreatment, gender, and age. A systematic literature review was conducted using Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, PsycARTICLES, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), CSTJD (China Science and Technology Journal Database) and WFD (Wan Fang Data). Three-level meta-analyses were performed using R to synthesize the effect sizes and conduct moderator analyses. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's regression tests. No significant publication bias was observed in any of the studies. A total of 46 studies (N = 23039 participants) producing 352 effect sizes were included. The results showed that the correlation between childhood maltreatment and empathy was significantly negative but only to a small extent (r = −0.076, 95% CI [−0.117, −0.035]). Moderator analysis revealed that the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy was moderated by the type of childhood maltreatment. The association between childhood maltreatment and empathy was stronger for physical neglect (r = −0.095) and emotional neglect (r = −0.128) than for physical abuse (r = 0.005). Furthermore, the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy was moderated by the dimensions of empathy. Specifically, the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy was negative for perspective-taking (r = −0.127), fantasy (r = −0.044), and empathic concern (r = −0.148), but positive for personal distress (r = 0.153). In addition, the mean age of the participants moderated the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy, with the mean age predicting a reduced negative association between childhood maltreatment and empathy (β = 0.004). However, the percentage of females did not moderate the observed association, which may indicate consistency in the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy across genders. The results supported the attachment theory, the facial feedback hypothesis, the "like-me" hypothesis, the perception-action model, and the Russian doll model, suggesting that the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy was complicated. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the association between childhood maltreatment and empathy but also produce meaningful practical implications for future research and intervention program design regarding how to promote the development of empathy. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Feasibility of online self-help mindfulness intervention integrating Chinese classical poetry and its impact on participants’ adherence WANG Biao, WANG Zhenzhen, LIU Xinghua Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (8): 1110-1124.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01110 Abstract （5177）   HTML （1090）    PDF （553KB）（14607）       Knowledge map    In recent years, mindfulness interventions have been applied across various fields and have achieved significant efficacy. With the widespread adoption of mobile Internet, online mindfulness interventions are flourishing, thus holding tremendous potential. However, a prominent issue is the generally low adherence of participants in such online mindfulness interventions. Concurrently, previous studies have demonstrated that poetry is also regarded as an important supplement to psychotherapy and mindfulness intervention therapy. Yet, no research has been conducted on the integration of Chinese classical poetry and mindfulness interventions—a topic that warrants further exploration. Moreover, Chinese classical poetry possesses distinct Chinese characteristics and is a highly appreciated literary art form among the local population. Therefore, based on the above propositions, this study considers the feasibility of integrating Chinese classical poetry into mindfulness intervention and whether it can enhance participants’ adherence. In Study 1, a 49-day online self-help mindfulness intervention incorporating Chinese classical poetry was developed based on Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) and poetry therapy. A total of 54 participants were recruited online who completed the pre- and postintervention assessments, including measures of mindfulness, perceived stress, and general well-being. The participants were required to answer additional questions regarding the feasibility of the intervention within one week postintervention. Then, the effectiveness of the intervention was analyzed using paired samples t-tests, whereas its feasibility was evaluated across five dimensions: Acceptability, Demand, Implementation, Practicality, and Limited-efficacy testing. In Study 2, 258 participants were recruited online and randomly assigned to Group A or Group B. Group A attended a mindfulness intervention program that integrated Chinese classical poetry, while Group B attended the same program without poetry. In the end, a total of 245 participants joined the study (118 in Group A and 127 in Group B). All participants were required to complete pre-, mid-, and postintervention assessments measuring mindfulness, perceived stress, and general well-being levels. Furthermore, the intervention’s effectiveness was examined using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), whereas the impact of the presence or absence of Chinese classical poetry on participants’ adherence was analyzed using chi-square tests. The results confirmed the feasibility of the developed online self-help mindfulness intervention integrating Chinese classical poetry in terms of Acceptability, Demand, Implementation, Practicality and Limited-efficacy testing, with participants perceiving the intervention as effective. The results of Study 2 demonstrated that both programs with and without poetry significantly improved participants’ mindfulness, perceived stress, and general well-being levels. However, the former significantly enhanced participants’ adherence. In addition, compared with the overall adherence levels of current online mindfulness interventions (ranging from 35% to 92%), the participants’ adherence to the proposed online intervention with Chinese classical poetry (84.75%) is relatively high. Finally, the study also found that integrating poetry into mindfulness interventions enhanced the majority of Chinese individuals’ engagement and completion rates, regardless of their personal preferences for Chinese classical poetry at baseline. This study represents the first integration of Chinese classical poetry into mindfulness intervention, resulting in a program enriched by Chinese cultural elements. The program facilitates the combination of outstanding traditional Chinese culture with modern psychological theories and practices, fostering their creative transformation and innovative development. Furthermore, the purely online self-help program employed in this study reduces reliance on therapists while simultaneously enhancing participants’ adherence. At the same time, this study provides more possibilities for the widespread application of mindfulness intervention and provides individuals with more choices for mental health treatment. Overall, these contributions hold significant practical significance and social value. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Do not think any virtue trivial, and thus neglect it: Serial mediating role of social mindfulness and perspective taking WANG Yimeng, ZHANG Jingmin, WANG Fengyan, XU Wentao, LIU Weiting Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (4): 626-641.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.00626 Abstract （8073）   HTML （1178）    PDF （1471KB）（14157）       Knowledge map    Mindfulness has roots in Eastern Buddhism and is generally defined as focusing one’s complete attention to experiences occurring in the present moment in a nonjudgmental or accepting way. The objective of mindfulness intervention is to first understand current experiences then gradually develop self-awareness and wisdom. Moreover, following Buddhist ethics, mindfulness predicts wisdom, which is linked with emphasis on individualized moral foundations of care, empathy, benevolence, and so on. Social mindfulness, as a positive quality and state behavior of mindful attention to others, may potentially affect the influence of mindfulness on wisdom by providing an indirect way to promote the common good. Moreover, social mindfulness involves minding the needs and interests of others in a way that honors the idea that most people prefer choosing for themselves. Based on this statement, the skill of processing the perspectives of others may lay the foundation for social mindfulness. Therefore, based on the above propositions, the hypothesis that mindfulness positively affects wisdom, mediated by perspective taking and social mindfulness, is proposed in this study. Through three studies, the above hypothesis is examined. For Study 1 (n=417), a self-rated wisdom, mindfulness, and social mindfulness questionnaire is adopted to investigate the link between trait mindfulness, wisdom, and social mindfulness. For Study 2 (n=80), data on state mindfulness, social mindfulness, and wisdom are collected at three points using a switching replication experimental design, which further examines the influence of social mindfulness on the link between mindfulness and wisdom at the state level. For Study 3 (n=412), social mindfulness is manipulated using the scenario simulation method, and the role of perspective taking is considered, which demonstrates the influence of mindfulness on wisdom through perspective taking and social mindfulness. Results show multidimensional mindfulness, with awareness and acceptance, is positively correlated with increased social mindfulness and wisdom, thereby verifying the mediating role of social mindfulness. Mindfulness intervention can effectively initiate state mindfulness and simultaneously improve social mindfulness and wisdom within a short period. Manipulated social mindfulness can enhance the positive predicted effect of mindfulness on wisdom and verify the mediating role of social mindfulness. Evidence on the mediating effect of perspective taking and social mindfulness is provided in this study. Specifically, mindful individuals are likely to demonstrate benign attention in interpersonal interactions by perspective taking, thereby constructing a practical path to wisdom. The theoretical model aims to complement and enrich the burgeoning mindfulness, wisdom, and morality literature. In studies 1 and 2, the standard finding (trait and state levels) that mindfulness triggers wisdom is replicated, and the correlation between mindfulness, social mindfulness, and wisdom is explored. A new perspective for improving individual wisdom is also provided. In summary, mindfulness positively influences wisdom through perspective taking and social mindfulness, thereby suggesting an indirect path from mindfulness to wisdom. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The effect of cumulative risk related to family adversity on social adjustment among left-behind children in China: The mediating role of stress and the moderating role of psychosocial resources FAN Xing-hua, FANG Xiao-yi, ZHAO Xian, CHEN Feng-ju Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (8): 1270-1284.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.01270 Abstract （8189）   HTML （915）    PDF （838KB）（12679）       Knowledge map    In China, left-behind children (LBC) refer to children (under the age of 16) who remain at rural regions while both of their parents migrate to urban area for work, or one of their parents migrates for work and the other has limited capacity to care for their children. Relative to non-left-behind children (NLBC), LBC are exposed to various risk factors related to family, such as lack of parental care and insufficient family support, which could increase their vulnerability to psychological and behavioral problems. Based on Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory and the cumulative risk (CR) model, this study used two-wave data (T1 and T2) and examined the association between cumulative risk related to family adversity (T1) and social adjustment outcomes (T1/T2), in which stress (T1/T2) is a mediator, and examined the moderating role of psychosocial resources (T1) in this association. A two-wave longitudinal household surveys were conducted among six hundred fifty-one families of rural children. A total of 285 children whose both parents migrated for work throughout the study waves were categorized as the LBC group, while 366 children who reported living with their parents at least one of waves were categorized as the control group. All measures in the surveys showed good reliability, including family adversity, stress, psychosocial resources (i.e., psychological capital and social support) and social adjustment (i.e., subjective well-being, depression, positive behaviors and problem behaviors). Data analyses were performed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 22.0. Results showed that: (1) LBC’s T1 cumulative risk related to family adversity was linearly associated with their T1/T2 social adjustment; (2) After controlling for gender and age, LBC’s T1 cumulative risk related to family adversity was negatively associated with T1 social adjustment (β = −0.42, p < 0.001), and T1 stress mediated this association. The association between stress and social adjustment was moderated by psychosocial resources, with a higher level of psychosocial resources associated with a smaller mediating effect of stress. (3) After controlling for gender and age, T1 stress and T1 social adjustment, T1 cumulative risk related to family adversity were negatively associated with T2 social adjustment (β = −0.23, p < 0.001), and T2 stress mediated this relationship. T1 psychosocial resources moderated the association of T1 cumulative risk related to family adversity on both T2 social adjustment and T2 stress. This showed that with the level of T1 psychosocial resources increasing, the main effect of T1 cumulative risk related to family adversity on T2 social adjustment and the mediation effect of T2 stress decreased and became statistically non-significant. The findings of this study demonstrate the detrimental impact of cumulative risk related to family adversity on social adjustment among LBC, as well as the mediating role of stress and the moderating role of psychosocial resources. Overall, these findings suggest that family risk factors are proximal factors for LBC’s social maladjustment, and future intervention should attend to psychosocial resource promotion. 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 （6780）   HTML （1011）    PDF （513KB）（12664）       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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Work values of Chinese generational cohorts TANG Ningyu, ZHEN Danlei, GUAN Jian Acta Psychologica Sinica    2024, 56 (7): 876-894.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00876 Abstract （2501）   HTML （130）    PDF （684KB）（12577）       Knowledge map    The entry of members of the millennial generation cohort (i.e., individuals born after 1980) into the Chinese workplace has created a more diverse labor force. Researchers and practitioners alike have recognized that these younger workers hold different work expectations from workers in prior generational cohorts. Since the division between new generations and their older counterparts has become more salient, researchers have increasingly emphasized issues such as how to accurately understand and effectively manage multi-generation employees. To address these issues, the current study aims to explore work values in three generation cohorts (i.e., the pre-reform, the reform, and the post-reform generation cohorts) based on Inglehart’s evolutionary modernization theory and from different research designs, measures, analysis methods and angles. In study 1, we used a longitudinal nationwide quantitative survey (China Labor-force Dynamic Survey, CLDS). The sample size was 5, 850 in total from CLDS 2012 to CLDS 2016. We used Age- Period-Cohort (APC) analysis to separate the cohort effect in work values from the age effect and the period effect. Study 2 aimed to validate the results of Study 1, and further explored intergenerational differences and similarities in work values. Since study 1 used a simple questionnaire to measure work values, we adopted the work values measurement developed by Cable and Edwards (2004), which followed Schwartz’s basic individual values framework to explore the work values more systematically. We conducted Study 2 through Credamo, a Chinese professional data platform. 992 full-time employees participated in the study, and we used hierarchical regression modeling. We conducted Study 3 through interpersonal perspective to overcome the potential self- serving biases in study 1 and study 2, and we asked participants to assess the work values of each generation. We recruited a total of 361 participants from the platform Credamo. The analyses of Studies 1~3 showed both generational differences and similarities in work values, and by and large, the post-reform generation showed more differences with the other two generations. Specifically, members of the post-reform generation placed more importance on the post-materialism work values and less importance on the materialism work value than previous generations; the post-reform generations placed higher importance on the openness to change work value than their predecessors, but there was no significant difference on the self- transcendence work value among the three generations. In addition, studies also found that there were both age and period effects on work values, and finally, all generations still placed more importance on materialist than post-materialist work value in the current workplace. The research provides new evidence and nuanced insight for generational differences in work values, which enriches our understanding of evolutionary modernization theory by empirically testing it in the Chinese context. Moreover, we conducted three studies with different designs, measures, analysis methods and perspectives, which not only supports the robustness of our research findings, but also sets a multi-method research example for future studies on the evolution in generation cohorts. This study offers managerial implications for how to better understand the similarities and differences in generation cohorts, especially the characteristics of younger generation workers, and how to manage diverse employees effectively in the workplace. It also sheds lights on future research potential for work values in generation cohorts. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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Traditional pettism: The influence of pet ownership status, pet type, and pet properties on pet moral standing XU Kepeng, OU Qianqian, XUE Hong, LUO Dongli, ZHANG Shuyue, XU Yan Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (10): 1662-1676.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.01662 Abstract （6250）   HTML （598）    PDF （577KB）（12561）       Knowledge map    An increasing number of people treat pets as their family members. Although there is no specific indication, that people first think of traditional pets such as dogs or cats when referring to pets. In this study, traditional pets are defined as widely popular pets that are accompanied by human beings; Non-traditional pets are defined as unique and novel pets that are different from traditional cognition. The factors that lead to the difference in perception of pet moral standing are not only pet properties but also pet ownership status. Recently, psychologists have sought to explore the relationship between people and pets. Such research dilemmas are focused on traditional pet owners and their traditional pets, and few studies pay attention to the relationship between non-traditional pet owners and their non-traditional pets. Here, we aim to investigate whether pet properties, pet ownership status, and pet type can affect the perception of pet moral standing and its mechanism. To define the traditional pets and non-traditional pets in our study, we first conducted a pre-study (N = 29). For three studies, we used the snowball sampling technique to recruit participants voluntarily online via Qualtrics in Baidu Post Bar through a questionnaire. Study 1 explored the impact of pet ownership status, pet type, and pet properties on the perception of pet moral standing, N = 146 (traditional pet owners: 41, non-traditional pet owners: 53; women: 77). In Study 2, based on controlling the basic moral orientation, the influence of pet ownership status and pet type on the perception of pet moral standing was reverified, N = 148 (traditional pet owners: 72; women: 74). Study 3 further explored the mechanism of this effect, the purpose is to investigate the empathy for animals in the relationship between pet attachment and the perception of traditional pet moral standing, N = 202 (women: 108). The results showed that: (1) The perception of traditional pet moral standing is higher than that of non-traditional pets, agency, experience and harmfulness played a mediating role; (2) Compared to non-pet owners, pet owners perceived a higher pet moral standing; Compared to non-traditional pet owners, traditional pet owners perceived a higher traditional pet moral standing; There was no significant difference in the perception of non-traditional pets moral standing; (3) The empathy for animals played a mediating role between the traditional pet owners pet attachment and the perception of traditional pet moral standing. Pet speciesism also exists in pets, traditional pets are higher in the hierarchy than non-traditional pets. Pet owners regard pets as psychological-kin and in-group members. The positive attitude towards pets in communication and interaction can be extended to all pets. When further subdividing the pet owners, this positive attitude is more obvious in the traditional pet owners. This may be because traditional pet owners are more idealistic, and the two-way emotional attachment between traditional pet owners and pets leads to stronger empathy for animals, which ultimately manifests as a more positive moral attitude towards traditional pets. There is no preference for non-traditional pets in non-traditional pet owners, it may be to gain social approval or a strong attachment with pets isn’t formed. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics

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The relationship between social exclusion and aggression: A meta-analysis JIN Juanjuan, SHAO Lei, HUANG Xiaoxiao, ZHANG Yali, YU Guoliang Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (12): 1979-1996.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.01979 Abstract （4461）   HTML （469）    PDF （919KB）（12348）       Knowledge map    Numerous studies have discussed the inducing factors of aggression, among which social exclusion has been widely concerned as a strong predictor. However, the studies about the association between social exclusion and aggression have shown mixed results. Theoretically, there are two main arguments about the relationship between social exclusion and aggression. The general aggression model suggests that social exclusion triggers negative emotions, hostile cognition, or a high level of physiological arousal, which leads to aggression.While the emotional numbness hypothesis argued that social exclusion causes individuals to be a state of physiological or emotional numbness, which avoids the occurrence of aggressive behaviour. Empirically, the effect sizes of this relationship reported in the existing literature were far from consistent, with r values ranging from -0.02 to 0.74. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to clarify the strength of the relationship between social exclusion and aggression and reveal possible moderators. Through literature retrieval, 92 studies (99 independent effect sizes, a total of 65564 subjects) met the inclusion criteria were selected. A random-effects model was selected to conduct the meta-analysis in Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.3 software, aiming at testing our hypotheses. The results of heterogeneity test illustrated that there was significant heterogeneity among 99 independent effects, indicating that the random effect model was suitable for subsequent meta-analysis. Based on the funnel chart and Egger’s regression test of intercept, no significant publication bias was found. The main effect analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between social exclusion and aggression (r = 0.38, 95% CI [0.34, 0.41]); The moderation analyses revealed that the relationship between social exclusion and aggression was moderated by age, research methods, aggression types (reactive aggression vs. proactive aggression), social exclusion and aggression measurement tools, and research design (cross-sectional study vs. longitudinal study), but not by individualism index and gender. The results of this meta-analysis can clarify the controversy of the correlation between social exclusion and aggression, indicating that excluded individuals are often accompanied by the increase of aggression level. Future research are encouraged to strengthen the prevention and intervention of aggressive behavior caused by social exclusion among low-age groups, especially preschool children and primary school students. 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）（11983）       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 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 （6674）   HTML （795）    PDF （755KB）（11763）       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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Personality subtypes of depressive disorders and their functional connectivity basis LI Yu, WEI Dongtao, QIU Jiang Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (5): 740-751.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.00740 Abstract （6562）   HTML （401）    PDF （2489KB）（11702）       Knowledge map    Heterogeneity among mental health issues has always attracted considerable attention, thereby restricting research on mental health and cognitive neuroscience. Additionally, the person-centred approach to personality research, which emphasizes population heterogeneity, has received more attention. On the other hand, the heterogeneity among depressive patients has been a problem that cannot be ignored (most studies ignored the actual situation and directly assumed sample homogeneity). A large number of empirical studies have provided evidence that isolated personality traits are often associated with depression. Only a few studies have considered the probable effect from a taxonomy perspective. Moreover, the neural mechanisms of personality types in depression remain unclear. This study aimed to reveal different personality subtypes of depressive disorders and elucidate subtypes from the perspective of resting-state functional connectivity. Personality and resting-state functional imaging data of 135 depressive patients and 133 controls were collected. First, combined with “depression diagnosis”, the personality types in depressive patients and controls were identified through functional random forest. Specifically, neuroticism and extraversion (input features) were fitted with the diagnosis of depression by a random forest model. The random seeds were set to 1234, and 500 decision trees were fitted. The performance of the model was evaluated by tenfold cross-validation. Subsequently, the random forest algorithm generated a proximity matrix that represented the similarity between paired participants. Then, based on the proximity matrix, community detection clustering analysis was conducted on depressive patients and controls, and personality types associated with depression diagnosis were obtained. Finally, we selected nodes of the subcortical network as regions of interest according to the power-264 template and calculated the functional connectivity map of the region of interest to the whole brain. Based on the functional connectivity map, the differences in resting-state functional connectivity between the main types were compared. Personality and resting-state functional imaging data of 159 depressive patients and 156 controls were collected. First, combined with “depression diagnosis”, the personality types in depressive patients and controls were identified through functional random forest. Specifically, neuroticism and extraversion (input features) were fitted with the diagnosis of depression by a random forest model. The random seeds were set to 1234, and 500 decision trees were fitted. The performance of the model was evaluated by tenfold cross-validation. Subsequently, the random forest algorithm generated a proximity matrix that represented the similarity between paired participants. Then, based on the proximity matrix, community detection clustering analysis was conducted on depressive patients and controls, and personality types associated with depression diagnosis were obtained. Finally, we selected the amygdala, hippocampus, insula (AAL atlas) and limbic network, default network, and control network (Schaefer-Yeo template) as regions of interest and calculated the functional connectivity of the subcortical regions to the networks. ANOVA was used to compare resting-state functional connectivity between the personality types. The results showed the following. (1) Depression was more common among individuals with high neuroticism and low extraversion tendencies, but there were also individuals with low neuroticism and high extraversion tendencies. The controls were more likely to be individuals with low neuroticism and high extraversion. (2) The results of resting-state functional connectivity showed no significant difference between depression and controls. (3) The functional connectivity strength of the left amygdala/insula-limbic network was significantly different across personality subtypes. In summary, the personality subtypes of depression identified by person-centred perspectives are more in line with reality and individual cognitive patterns, and they have potential clinical adaptive value. The findings of this study enhance the understanding of heterogeneity among depressive disorders. 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 （6510）   HTML （360）    PDF （444KB）（11554）       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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Accept or change your fate: Exploring the Golem effect and underdog effect of underdog expectations MA Jun, ZHU Mengting Acta Psychologica Sinica    2023, 55 (6): 1029-1048.   DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.01029 Abstract （8133）   HTML （618）    PDF （1227KB）（11262）       Knowledge map    In organisations, some employees are heralded as rising stars, whilst others are considered underdogs with no prospects. Scholars define individuals’ perceptions that others view them as unlikely to succeed as underdog expectation. The traditional view indicates that when individuals experience underdog expectations from others, they will reduce their subsequent performance through a sense of self-efficacy. This phenomenon, in which one’s performance is manipulated by someone else’s negative assessment, is also known as the Golem effect. Indeed, some studies have suggested that underdog expectations can enhance their desire to prove others wrong to improve performance. However, such studies have only focused on the influence of underdog expectations on employee behavior as social-situation cues but have disregarded its interaction with individuals’ traits. By integrating the preceding arguments, we proposed a comprehensive model based on trait activation theory, which examines the Golem and underdog effects. Specifically, under the moderating effect of underdog expectations, employees with fixed mindsets have a negative impact on subsequent task performance through feedback- avoiding behavior. Meanwhile, employees with growth mindsets have a positive impact on subsequent task performance by proving others wrong. The task context (task focus vs. future focus) plays a role in inhibiting and amplifying the two interactions. This study aimed to explore the reasons why employees who are trapped in underdog expectations become a Golem manipulated by fate and how to counter strike and become an underdog in the workplace. This study constructed a three-term interaction model of nested moderated mediation model. Three studies were designed to explore the internal and intervention mechanisms of the Golem and underdog effects activated by underdog expectations. In the first study, the existence of three interactions was initially examined through a multi-source, multi-point questionnaire of 341 employees. To test the stability of the three interactions and the extensibility of the research conclusions in different groups, a second multi-source and multi-time questionnaire survey involving 650 employees and a field study based on a quasi-experiment were designed for retesting. Regression analysis, bootstrap method and Johnson−Neyman (J−N) technology were used to analyse the questionnaire data to examine the moderated mediation effects of the three-term interaction. T-tests were used to analyse data from the field study. The analyses of the study showed the following results. (1) The interaction between underdog expectations and fixed mindsets positively affects subsequent task performance through feedback-avoiding behavior. (2) The interaction between underdog expectations and growth mindsets positively affects subsequent task performance through the desire to prove others wrong. (3) Lastly, task focus reduces the positive moderating effect of underdog expectations on fixed mindsets, and future focus strengthens the positive moderating effect of underdog expectations on growth mindsets. Findings of our research have several theoretical and practical implications. This study revealed the causes of the Golem and underdog effects, thereby enriching and expanding the research on implicit theory. It showed that fixed and growth mindsets have different paths in processing negative information, which is helpful in integrating the research on underdog and topdog employees. It also provided a theoretical explanation and transformation idea for the emergence and popularity of the depressed culture represented by the lie down and Buddha-like mindsets. Table and Figures | Reference | Related Articles | Metrics