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Multi-dimensional evidence for the regulation of negative information dissemination by positive cognitive reappraisal XIAO Chengyuan, ZHAO Shirui, YUAN Jiajin 2024, 56 (11):  1471-1487.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01471 Abstract ( 3059 )   HTML ( 475 )   PDF (2194KB) ( 4269 )   Peer Review Comments The surge in popularity of social media platforms, such as Sina Weibo, has made retweet a significant means of online information dissemination, yet concurrently led to the rampant spread of false information, resulting in frequent network contingencies. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms, influencing factors, and possible interventions for the dissemination of negative information with unknown contexts is imperative. Despite this importance, few studies have examined the role of emotional regulation in curbing the spread of such information from the perspective of individual retweet behavior. This study addresses this gap by conducting two experiments that explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of emotions and emotion regulation strategies, specifically positive cognitive reappraisal (considering positive aspects of the event), on the propagation of such ambiguous information at both behavioral and electrophysiological levels. Utilizing a mixed factorial design with 2 (Information Type: Neutral vs Negative) × 2 (Regulation Strategy: Positive Cognitive Reappraisal vs Observation), participants were divided into Reappraisal and Observation groups (control group). In the experimental procedure, a fixation point was initially presented, followed by randomly displayed emotionally-laden event images (neutral faces combined with neutral/negative information), which had been pre-assessed. Participants were instructed to either simply immerse themselves in observing the images (Observation group) or to engage in both observation and positive cognitive reappraisal (Reappraisal group), after which they rated their emotional experiences, moral judgments, retweet willingness and retweet behavior. Experiment 1 included 71 participants (mean age 20.16 ± 1.85 years); the Reappraisal group consisted of 35 participants (14 males, 22 females), while the Observation group comprised 36 participants (11 males, 24 females). Experiment 2 involved 44 participants (mean age 20.04 ± 1.83 years), with 22 in each group. Building upon Experiment 1, this second experiment incorporated event-related potentials (ERPs); following the presentation of emotional event images, isolated face stimuli matching the previously viewed information were shown. Participants engaged in reappraisal (Reappraisal group) or reflected on their emotions (Observation group) when viewing these faces, before proceeding to subsequent ratings. During the stages where face presentation, emotional experience, moral judgment, retweet willingness and retweet behavior were scored, EEG data were collected. Findings revealed that(1) information type significantly influences retweet willingness and behavior, even when the context or cause of the events is unclear to individuals. Specifically, participants exhibited heightened negative emotions and perceived less morality associated with negative information compared to neutral content, leading to a higher inclination to retweet negative information. Notably, when exposed to negative information, participants in the Reappraisal group showed lower levels of negative emotions, more lenient moral judgments, and significantly fewer retweet behaviors compared to those in the Observation group. This suggests that engaging in positive cognitive reappraisal diminishes the negative emotional experience, relaxes moral judgment criteria, and reduces retweet behavior regarding information with unknown contexts. (2) Electroencephalographic findings revealed that positive cognitive reappraisal altered the amplitude of the early posterior negativity (EPN) component in the occipito-temporal region during the processing of information. More precisely, when confronted with negative information, participants in the Reappraisal group exhibited significantly lower EPN amplitudes than their counterparts in the Observation group. Mediation analysis further illuminated that positive cognitive reappraisal reduced participants' retweet willingness and behavior by decreasing the amplitude of the EPN. This research pioneers an examination of personal retweet behavior, exploring the influence of emotion regulation strategies on the diffusion of information with unknown contexts. By integrating event-related potential technology, it analytically addressed the neurophysiological characteristics of this effect, filling a theoretical gap in current information transmission research. Moreover, the study offers fresh insights into tackling the spread of false information by providing a novel approach grounded in emotion regulation theory. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The relationships among compounding morphological awareness, word structure awareness and vocabulary knowledge in Chinese primary school children in middle and upper grades: A cross-lagged model GUO Cun, XIE Ruibo, YU Yanling, XIA Yue, WANG Zhenliang, Wu Xinchun 2024, 56 (11):  1488-1498.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01488 Abstract ( 1343 )   HTML ( 185 )   PDF (458KB) ( 1588 )   Peer Review Comments Morphological awareness stands as a pivotal facet of metalinguistic awareness, exerting a significant influence on children's linguistic progression. Morphological awareness in Chinese has three aspects: word level, character level and sub-lexical level. At the word level, morphological awareness encapsulates children's comprehension of morpheme meanings and structures, comprising compounding morphological awareness and word structure awareness. These components scrutinize Chinese vocabulary, elucidating morpheme semantics and grammatical structure, respectively. Through these facets of morphological awareness, children achieve a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of vocabulary semantics and syntax, thereby enhancing the efficacy of vocabulary acquisition. Given the intricate interplay between compounding morphological awareness, word structure awareness, and vocabulary knowledge, it is imperative to explore their interconnectedness within the realm of children's language development. The study investigated changes in the developmental interplay among compounding morphological awareness, word structure awareness, and vocabulary knowledge in elementary school children from third to fifth grade. A cohort of 278 third-graders underwent three follow-up tests over a span of two years. The assessments were conducted at Time 1 (fall semester of Grade 3), Time 2 (fall semester of Grade 4), and Time 3 (fall semester of Grade 5), each separated by a one-year interval. Age, IQ, and phonological awareness were treated as control variables and measured at Time 1. Utilizing a cross-lagged model, the study examined the dynamic relationships among compounding morphological awareness, word structure awareness, and vocabulary knowledge across different time points. The results showed that after controlling for the above additional variables: (1) Vocabulary knowledge at Time 1 significantly predicted compounding morphological awareness and word structure awareness at Time 2. Similarly, compounding morphological awareness at Time 1 significantly predicted word structure awareness and vocabulary knowledge at Time 2. However, word structure awareness at Time 1 did not significantly predict compounding morphological awareness and vocabulary knowledge at Time 2. (2) Compounding morphological awareness at Time 2 significantly predicted word structure awareness and vocabulary knowledge at Time 3. Likewise, word structure awareness at Time 2 significantly predicted compounding morphological awareness and vocabulary knowledge at Time 3. However, vocabulary knowledge at Time 2 did not significantly predict compounding morphological awareness and word structure awareness at Time 3. Overall, the developmental interplay among compounding morphological awareness, word structure awareness, and vocabulary knowledge during grades 3 to 5 exhibited dynamic characteristics with distinct stages. The study findings addressed a gap in prior research by incorporating the grammatical aspects of words into the exploration of Chinese morphological awareness. This investigation elucidated the developmental patterns of morphological awareness at the word level, offering a nuanced comprehension of its relationship with vocabulary knowledge. Moreover, the results hold implications for enhancing vocabulary instruction among elementary school students in the middle and upper grades, thus contributing to pedagogical practices in language education. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The longitudinal relationship between social mobility belief and prosocial behavior among adolescents from out-of-poverty families: The moderating effect of urban‒rural differences ZHAO Xian, HU Yiqiu, LI Zhihua 2024, 56 (11):  1499-1511.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01499 Abstract ( 1808 )   HTML ( 232 )   PDF (610KB) ( 2681 )   Peer Review Comments China has entered a new stage of consolidating achievements in poverty alleviation, where it is crucial to stimulate the development of endogenous power among the population that has emerged out of poverty. Therefore, enhancing self-development capabilities among adolescents from out-of-poverty families is vital for overcoming the intergenerational transmission of poverty and promoting social integration. Social mobility belief is an important embodiment of strong endogenous power for independent development and the realization of life value, which is related to the positive socialization development of adolescents from out-of-poverty families. The integrated theories from various disciplines, such as sociology, economics, and psychology, are used to construct a unified theoretical framework, which posits that social mobility is a key mechanism through which economic inequality affects the health and behavior of disadvantaged adolescents. Additionally, owing to the long-standing urban‒rural dual structure in China, there are significant differences in the social mobility expectations and social development of adolescents in different urban and rural social environments. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between social mobility belief and prosocial behavior among adolescents from out-of-poverty families and whether the longitudinal relationship is moderated by urban‒rural differences among adolescents from out-of-poverty families. This study followed 847 adolescents (Mage 11.38 ± 2.30 years old, 58% girls) from out-of-poverty families, with two follow-up surveys administered during the following two years. Data analyses were performed via SPSS 24.0 and Mplus 8.4. The parallel latent growth model was used to explore the longitudinal relationship between social mobility belief and prosocial behavior, and the latent growth interaction model was subsequently used to explore the moderating role of rural−urban differences in this longitudinal relationship. The results revealed that (1) social mobility belief exhibited a linear increase in development trajectory, whereas prosocial behavior showed a linear decrease in development trajectory among adolescents from out-of-poverty families. (2) Controlling for gender, the parallel latent growth model revealed that the initial level of social mobility belief positively predicted the initial level of prosocial behavior and negatively predicted the decline in prosocial behavior. Moreover, the increasing trajectory of social mobility belief negatively predicts a decline in prosocial behavior. (3) The latent growth interaction model revealed that rural−urban differences served as a moderating factor in the longitudinal relationship between social mobility belief and prosocial behavior. Specifically, for rural adolescents in out-of-poverty families, a higher initial level of social mobility belief was associated with a higher initial level of prosocial behavior. Moreover, a faster growth rate in social mobility belief had a stronger predictive effect on reducing the decline rate of prosocial behavior among these adolescents from out-of-poverty families. The findings of this study demonstrate the longitudinal relationship between social mobility belief and prosocial behavior among adolescents from out-of-poverty families, as well as the moderating impact of urban−rural differences. These findings suggest that the upward trend of social mobility belief can foster the positive social development of rural adolescents among out-of-poverty families. Research findings indicate that China’s poverty alleviation policies have not only effectively increased social mobility belief among adolescents in out-of-poverty families who have overcome poverty but also significantly mitigated the decreased development of prosocial behavior in rural adolescents from out-of-poverty families. Figures and Tables | References | 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 2024, 56 (11):  1512-1523.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01512 Abstract ( 4194 )   HTML ( 480 )   PDF (512KB) ( 5822 )   Peer Review Comments 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. Figures and Tables | References | 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 2024, 56 (11):  1524-1540.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01524 Abstract ( 3769 )   HTML ( 469 )   PDF (522KB) ( 5038 )   Peer Review Comments 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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Kindness or fairness: Prosociality and fairness jointly modulate moral judgments WU Jun, LI Wanchen, YAO Xiaohuan, LIU Jie, CUI Fang 2024, 56 (11):  1541-1555.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01541 Abstract ( 2183 )   HTML ( 243 )   PDF (2160KB) ( 3082 )   Peer Review Comments Moral judgment involves assessing actions that carry moral weight against established ethical standards. Recent research has revealed the separate effects of fairness and prosociality--through personal actions intended to benefit others--on moral judgment. However, the ingroup bias in prosocial behaviors may sometimes conflict with the principle of fairness. Little is known about the mechanism underlying the moral judgment of such complex moral decisions, i.e., when both prosociality and fairness are embedded in the decisions. To explore this, we utilized a modified dictator game task to examine how prosociality and fairness jointly modulate moral judgments and the role of social distance in these judgments. In our first experiment (Experiment 1), 90 participants (37 females, 22.73 ± 3.08 years) participated as third-party judges. They evaluated decisions made by others who varied in social distance on a resource allocation task. In the resource allocation task, the decision makers were given 100 money units by the system while two strangers were facing the threat of a highly unpleasant noise. They need to decide 1) how many money units they would like to donate to reduce the duration of the two strangers’ noise (i.e., prosociality) and 2) how to allocate the donated money units between the two strangers (i.e., fairness). The results showed that under conditions of high prosociality, the discrepancy in moral ratings between “fair” and “unfair” decisions was significantly larger compared to conditions of low prosociality. Notably, participants rated decisions made by their friends higher and those by strangers lower, establishing a clear “interpersonal hierarchy”. A total of 41 participants (21 females, 21.15 ± 2.36 years) participated in Experiment 2, where event-related potential (ERP) technology was employed further explore the cognitive neurobiological mechanisms of prosociality and fairness affecting moral judgments. This experiment expanded the scope of social distance to include broader group dynamics, including ingroup and outgroup distinctions, and evaluated willingness to cooperate as a potential influencing factor in future decisions. The findings mirrored those of Experiment 1: high prosociality heightened sensitivity to fairness. Behaviorally, under high prosocial conditions, participants issued lower moral judgments but expressed a higher willingness to cooperate when ingroup members made unfair decisions compared to outgroup members. At the neural level, when ingroup members demonstrated high prosociality, the ERP components (Feedback related negativity and P3) showed significantly greater amplitudes in response to fair versus unfair decisions. Overall, these results suggest that prosociality and fairness dynamically interact to shape third-party moral judgments while high prosociality enhances the influence of fairness. This study also highlights how moral judgment adapts based on social proximity to decision-makers, revealing intricate temporal dynamics in how prosociality and fairness are processed while creating moral judgments. This research offers a new methodological approach to understanding the complex cognitive neurobiological mechanisms underlying moral judgment in varying social contexts. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Reducing daily abusive supervision caused by subordinates’ venting through learning opportunity appraisal: A study from leaders’ perspective LIU Depeng, PANG Xuhong, SONG Jie, LI Juexing, YANG Yiyi, ZHANG Shengjun 2024, 56 (11):  1556-1567.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01556 Abstract ( 992 )   HTML ( 97 )   PDF (501KB) ( 1132 )   Peer Review Comments Venting at work is a common issue and management dilemma that leaders, at whom it is often targeted, confront daily. Studies have revealed that venting is a double-edged sword. Furthermore, existing research tends to focus on the ventor’s perspective, largely ignoring the ventee. To our knowledge, only one empirical study has looked at the issue from the ventee’s perspective, revealing negative emotions and destructive leadership behaviors as consequences of subordinates’ venting. Nevertheless, recent studies argue that receivers respond to intricate workplace messages both through “hot,” emotional responses and through “cold, ” cognitive reactions, and the latter might be more explanatory. Unfortunately, research on subordinates’ venting has largely ignored the cognitive processes, suggesting instead that the solution may lie in recruiting leaders with certain characteristics. However, not only is the strategy extremely expensive, but it also presents leaders with navigational challenges. Therefore, based on the transactional theory of stress, this paper explored how leaders’ behaviors are affected by subordinates’ venting. By conceptualizing subordinates’ venting as a stressor for leaders, we proposed that the impact of subordinates’ venting on leaders’ ego depletion and subsequent abusive supervision may be alleviated if leaders can reframe such venting as a learning opportunity rather than a threat. To capture within-person variability and test our model, we collected data using a time-lagged interval-based experience sampling method. The study participants included middle managers from an electronics manufacturing firm and a financial services company in eastern China. The survey was conducted in two stages. First, 196 managers completed a baseline survey of demographic data and managerial self-efficacy. Afterward, the participants completed three surveys per day over ten consecutive working days. Time 1 was a measure of daily receipt of subordinates’ venting and negative affect. Time 2 included appraisal of the learning opportunity provided by daily subordinates’ venting, appraisal of threat perceived in daily subordinates’ venting, and appraisal of daily ego depletion. Time 3 measured daily abusive supervision. After data matching, the final sample comprised 1, 532 observations from 188 middle managers. Multilevel path analyses showed that, at the within-person level, daily receipt of subordinates’ venting was positively related to leaders’ daily ego depletion, and that leaders’ daily ego depletion mediated the relationship between daily receipt of subordinates’ venting and daily abusive supervision. Moreover, learning opportunity appraisal weakened the positive relationship between daily receipt of subordinates’ venting and daily ego depletion, as a result of which this relationship was significant only when leaders’ learning opportunity appraisal was low. Further, learning opportunity appraisal moderated the indirect relationship between daily receipt of subordinates’ venting and daily abusive supervision through daily ego depletion. There are three key respects in which the present study significantly advances the ventee’s perspective within the relevant literature. First, instead of treating leaders as passive recipients of venting, this paper applies the transactional theory of stress to argue for leaders’ active role in managing subordinates’ venting, particularly by employing learning opportunity appraisal. Second, it stresses the role of “cold” cognitive mechanisms over “hot” emotional mechanisms, delineating the mediating role of ego depletion as a key cognitive process underlying leaders’ negative reactions. Third, as opposed to suggestions of recruiting leaders with specific personal characteristics to combat the negative consequences of workplace venting, this paper shows that the strategy of learning opportunity appraisal is a cost-effective and practical approach for leaders to implement. This study also enriches the general understanding of situational antecedents of abusive supervision. Thus, this paper offers practical ways to effectively address subordinates’ venting and minimize the potential abusive supervision arising from unfavorable situations. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The mechanism underlying the effects of a “misfit” in terms of entrepreneurial passion on entrepreneurial effort and entrepreneurial addiction LI Cirong, WANG Chunmiao, SUN Minghui 2024, 56 (11):  1568-1584.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01568 Abstract ( 628 )   HTML ( 70 )   PDF (1387KB) ( 686 )   Peer Review Comments Entrepreneurial passion has always been an important topic of research in the field of entrepreneurship. Such passion consists of entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings resulting from entrepreneurial experiences. Previous studies have reported that entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings may not change synchronously over time, which may lead to either a state of fit or a state of misfit. Such a state of misfit may influence entrepreneurial efforts in different directions. Although a great deal of research has reported that both entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings can enhance entrepreneurs' engagement and persistence in entrepreneurial activities, scholars have highlighted the potential negative effects of excessive commitment in the context of entrepreneurship, such as entrepreneurial addiction. Thus, this study, which is based on identity control theory and involves response surface analysis, aimed to elucidate the impacts of a misfit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings on both entrepreneurial efforts and entrepreneurial addiction. Additionally, this study proposes and tests the possibility that contentment and anxiety mediate the relationships between a misfit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings and both entrepreneurial efforts and entrepreneurial addiction, thus extending our understanding of this topic. Study 1 employed 8 consecutive measurements to investigate 364 entrepreneurs who were in the process of starting their own businesses; these entrepreneurs were recruited from four provinces, i.e., Jilin, Shandong, Henan, and Liaoning, and a total of 145 people ultimately completed all the surveys. After the participants completed the baseline survey (which included questions regarding their personal information and entrepreneurial status), a follow-up questionnaire was distributed to the participants to measure their entrepreneurial identity centrality, intense positive feelings, entrepreneurial effort, and entrepreneurial addiction over the past 6 weeks. The effects of a misfit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings on both entrepreneurial effort and entrepreneurial addiction were analysed via polynomial regression and response surface analysis, respectively. Study 2 focused on different sample of participants recruited from the four provinces (cities) of Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Beijing; like Study 1, this study featured eight consecutive measurements, although it included additional measures of contentment and anxiety. In Study 2, we collected data from a total of 157 participants. In both studies, we used the same well-established scales to measure each variable. Moreover, some variables, such as sex, were controlled for in this study to mitigate their potential influence on the results of the study. On the basis of identity control theory, Study 1 first explored the effects of a misfit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings on both entrepreneurial effort and entrepreneurial addiction. The results of this study were consistent with our hypotheses, revealing that (1) entrepreneurial effort is higher and entrepreneurial addiction is lower in cases involving a fit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings than in cases involving a misfit between these factors. (2) In cases involving a fit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings, entrepreneurs who exhibit high identity centrality and high positive feelings report higher levels of entrepreneurial effort and entrepreneurial addiction than do entrepreneurs who exhibit low identity centrality and low positive feelings. (3) In situations involving a misfit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings, entrepreneurs who exhibit high identity centrality and low positive feelings report higher levels of entrepreneurial effort and entrepreneurial addiction than do entrepreneurs who exhibit low identity centrality and high positive feelings. Study 2 investigated samples with different backgrounds and introduced two types of achievement emotions, i.e., contentment and anxiety, with the goal of exploring the underlying mechanisms in further detail while revalidating the results of Study 1. In addition, we tested a mediating hypothesis that proposes that a misfit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings reduces entrepreneurial effort via contentment and enhances entrepreneurial addiction via anxiety. Our study enhances our understanding of the complex relationships between two components of entrepreneurial passion (entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings) and two components of entrepreneurial behaviour (entrepreneurial effort and entrepreneurial addiction). First, this research not only responds to calls for an understanding of the fit between the two components of entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings but also integrates the fit perspective and identity control theory to highlight additional explanatory paths for changes in entrepreneurial effort. Second, this study focuses on the "dark side" of entrepreneurial behaviour and verifies that the centrality of entrepreneurial identity and the dislocation of strong positive emotions are important themes pertaining to entrepreneurial addiction. Finally, this investigation of outcome-oriented achievement emotions deepens our understanding of the relationships between a misfit between entrepreneurial identity centrality and intense positive feelings and both entrepreneurial efforts and entrepreneurial addiction. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Does engaging in creative activities increase consumers’ preference for horror entertainment consumption? Evidence from secondary data study and experiments YANG Qiaoying, LIU Wumei 2024, 56 (11):  1585-1603.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01585 Abstract ( 1003 )   HTML ( 87 )   PDF (1054KB) ( 1022 )   Peer Review Comments As the horror consumption industry expands, horror-related entertainment projects have become one of the most popular and profitable forms of entertainment. However, although horror films and horror challenge events appeal to some younger consumers, the majority of consumers show a reluctance to consume these products due to fear and dread. Therefore, from a practical standpoint, it is worth investigating which factors can increase or decrease consumers' willingness to consume horror products. However, previous research mainly focused on examining the same-domain factors that drive consumers' horror consumption preferences. Limited research studied the cross-domain factors that influence consumers' preferences for horror consumption. To address this research gap, this paper examines how consumers' horror consumption preferences are influenced by their experiences in a prior, unrelated context. Specifically, this paper proposes that prior engagement in creative activities (versus non-creative activities) increases consumers' preference for horror consumption, and self-efficacy mediates the cross-domain effect. Furthermore, this paper proposes that the cross-domain effect will be evident when consumers receive positive feedback regarding their creative performance, and when the creative activity is lowly difficult. Conversely, the effect will disappear when consumers receive negative feedback or when the creative activity is highly difficulty. Across seven studies, we provide converging evidence for our propositions. Specifically, we find that engaging consumers in a creative activity can increase their preference for horror consumption (Studies 1~3) due to the increases in self-efficacy (Studies 4a~4b). Furthermore, the effect of engaging in creative activities on consumers' preference for horror consumption disappears (is evident) when consumers receive negative (positive) feedback (Study 5) and when the creative activity is highly (lowly) difficult to complete (Study 6). Finally, the above results cannot be explained by alternative explanations such as mood (Study 2~3), motivation to seek new experiences (Study 4a), felt inspiration in creative activities and felt pleasure (Study 4b). This paper makes several theoretical advances to prior research. First, it advances the literature on horror consumption by investigating the cross-domain factors that influence consumers’ preference for horror consumption. This exploration opens new avenues for studying consumers' preferences for horror products. Second, this paper contributes to past creativity research by investigating how consumers' behavior changes when they engage in a creative activity. The current research reveals a novel outcome of consumers' engagement in creative activities: an increased preference for horror consumption. Finally, this paper contributes to self-efficacy research by establishing a linkage between engaging in creative activities and self-efficacy, and a linkage between self-efficacy and horror consumption. We contribute to prior literature by proposing that engaging in creative activities can boost self-efficacy. In addition, we show that increased self-efficacy can lead consumers to engage in horror consumption. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Semantic versus homophonic puns: The match between brand personality and pun types in advertisements HUANG Yunhui, XIAO Youkai, CHU Xing-Yu (Marcos), LU Yue 2024, 56 (11):  1604-1618.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01604 Abstract ( 873 )   HTML ( 90 )   PDF (1255KB) ( 1115 )   Peer Review Comments Advertising is the primary means of shaping a brand’s image and enhancing its influence. An important research topic is exploring how to effectively convey product and brand information through advertisements and establish a brand image in consumers' minds. In marketing practice, there have been numerous successful cases of using puns in advertising to shape brand image. While academic research has investigated the advantages of puns in advertising, neither how puns impact brand shaping nor the distinct effects of different types of puns on consumer psychology has been studied. This paper first categorizes puns in advertising as semantic puns or homophonic puns. It then examines the effect of pun type on the important brand personalities of sophistication and sincerity. Through six experiments (four laboratory experiments and two field experiments), this paper examines the matching effect between brand personality and pun type and its underlying mechanisms. Experiment 1A used a one-factor (brand personality: sophistication vs. sincerity) between-subjects design. Participants were asked to select a slogan for either a sophisticated brand or a sincere brand. The findings indicated that consumers were more likely to choose a slogan with a semantic pun rather than a homophonic pun for a sophisticated brand compared to a sincere brand. Experiment 1B employed a one-factor (pun type: semantic vs. homophonic) between-subjects design. Participants were asked to judge brand personality after viewing an advertisement containing a slogan with a semantic or a homophonic pun. The results revealed that when a semantic (vs. homophonic) pun was used, consumers perceived a higher level of sophistication brand personality and a lower level of sincerity brand personality. Experiments 1A and 1B together confirmed there is a match between brand personality and pun type. Experiments 2-4 examined the positive effects of the match between brand personality and pun type in brand advertising. Experiment 2 employed a 2 (brand personality: sophistication vs. sincerity) × 2 (pun type: semantic vs. homophonic) between-subjects design. The results showed that for a sophisticated brand, a semantic pun led to higher purchase intention compared to a homophonic pun, while for a sincere brand, a homophonic pun led to higher purchase intention and higher product attitude compared to a semantic pun. Experiments 3A and 3B were field experiments that utilized designs similar to that of Experiment 2. These studies demonstrated that when brand personality and pun type matched, consumers exhibited higher click-through rates on advertisements, enhancing the external validity of the research. Experiment 4 employed a 2 (brand personality: sophistication vs. sincerity) × 2 (altering the "brand personality-complexity" link: present vs. absent) × 2 (pun type: semantic vs. homophonic) between-subjects design. The results revealed that the belief that “advertising language for sophisticated brands should be more complex, and advertising language for sincere brands should be simpler” was changed, and the positive effects of the match between brand personality and pun type disappeared. This research fills a gap in the marketing field regarding Chinese puns and investigates the influence of different pun types on consumer psychology for the first time. It shows that combining pun types with brand personality and showing the match between them leads to positive consumer responses. This research contributes to the fields of rhetorical studies and brand personality research. In terms of practical implications, the match effect of pun types and brand personality offers viable strategies for applying commonly used Chinese language pun rhetoric within the field of brand marketing. Brand owners and advertisers can shape brand personality and enhance brand attractiveness by selecting appropriately matched slogans. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Joint modeling of psychological experimental data: Mixed effects of reaction and reaction time GUO Xiaojun, JIAO Yuyue, BAI Xiaoyun, LUO Zhaosheng, LI Hong 2024, 56 (11):  1619-1633.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01619 Abstract ( 843 )   HTML ( 84 )   PDF (1023KB) ( 1246 )   Peer Review Comments Mixed-Effects Models (MEMs) have become a prominent trend in the analysis of psychological experiment data. MEMs can simultaneously treat both subjects and stimuli as random variables, effectively analyzing experimental effects and the associated differences between subjects (or stimuli). This approach avoids the issue of treating subjects or stimuli as fixed variables and consequently the high incidence of false positives, which is common in analysis of variance (ANOVA). Typically, in psychological experiments, reaction and reaction times are described and modeled separately. However, this separation hinders the full utilization and integration of different data from subjects to exploit maximum information from sample datasets. Current psychometric and cognitive process models attempt to jointly analyze different data sources, providing insights for the joint modeling of psychological experiment data. In psychological experiments, a specific duration is typically set for each stimulus, and subjects are required to make a keystroke response within this period. This setup is similar to time-limited tests, but the tasks in psychological experiments are usually simpler. Based on this, the paper constructs three joint models: mixed MEM, independent MEM, and speed MEM. These models are compared with the separate model of reaction and reaction time data (i.e., separate MEM) in a series of studies. In the analysis of IAT (Implicit Association Test) experiment data, the separate MEM was found to be inferior to the independent MEM in both data fitting and parameter estimation. The mixed MEM showed better model fit indices than both independent MEM and speed MEM. In the simulation studies, different comparisons were conducted using mixed MEM and speed MEM as benchmark models. The simulation results show that the relative bias in parameter estimation for separate MEM was generally greater than that for independent MEM, and it had a higher Type I error rate. Among the joint models, the independent MEM exhibited significant parameter estimate biases across benchmark models and also had high Type I error rates and statistical power. Similarly, the speed MEM was found to have comparable issues under mixed MEM simulation conditions. On the other hand, the mixed MEM was able to better identify parameters under different simulated scenarios compared to other joint models, and it had better Type I error rates and statistical power. In conclusion, joint modeling is more advantageous than separate analysis in psychological experiments. Moreover, the reaction and reaction times in experimental tasks are more likely to have complex mixed influence relationships. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Design of the polytomous simplest complete Q matrix based on the reachability matrix TANG Xiaojuan, PENG Zhixia, QIN Shanshan, DING Shuliang, MAO Mengmeng, LI Yu 2024, 56 (11):  1634-1650.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01634 Abstract ( 385 )   HTML ( 14 )   PDF (1634KB) ( 303 )   Peer Review Comments The identifiability of cognitive diagnosis models relies heavily on the completeness of the Q matrix. However, existing test designs primarily focus on dichotomously-scored items, neglecting the importance of polytomous cognitive diagnostic test design. Moreover, this limitation poses a significant obstacle to the advancement of cognitive diagnosis. To bridge this gap, this paper aimed to introduce novel designs for the construction of polytomous structured and unstructured simplest complete Q matrices (SSCQM/USCQM). Our proposed approach considered all ideal response patterns (IRPs) of knowledge states (KSs) on the reachability matrix as research objects, with the objective of minimizing the number of columns selected from the reachability matrix. This ensured one-to-one correspondence between the set of KSs and the set of IRPs, thereby enhancing the completeness of the SSCQM. Additionally, we derived a polytomous USCQM by considering the relationship between the SSCQM and the sub-matrix of the corresponding identity matrix while ensuring that each row contains at least one “1”. Interestingly, the construction process revealed that there were more USCQMs than SSCQMs. This innovative approach expanded the possibilities for polytomous cognitive diagnostic test design. This study focused on the design and evaluation of cognitive diagnostic tests using polytomous structured and unstructured Q matrices (SSCQM/USCQM). We conducted two studies to comprehensively examine the influence of factors such as the number of attributes, attribute hierarchies, and item parameters on the precision of the SSCQM, USCQM, and reachability matrix. In the first study, variations in attribute structures and item parameter values were investigated to understand their impact on Q matrix accuracy. On the other hand, the second study explored the effects of attribute hierarchies and the number of attributes on the precision of the SSCQM, USCQM, and reachability matrix. Both simulation studies and actual measurement data were utilized to assess the robustness and efficacy of the two methods. Firstly, the simulation results revealed several key findings. Notably, increasing the number of SSCQMs or USCQMs positively influenced the accuracy of the results. In the context of long tests, the USCQM demonstrated higher Pattern Match Ratio (PMR) and Marginal Match Ratio (MMR) compared to the SSCQM and the reachability matrix. This trend was particularly evident when there was an increase in item parameters, attribute numbers, or a change in attribute hierarchy. However, it is noteworthy that, regardless of these various factors, the PMR and MMR of the three tests exhibited minimal differences. On the other hand, in short tests with good item quality, the SSCQM achieved the best performance compared to other methods. This highlights the importance of considering specific test characteristics and item quality when selecting the appropriate Q matrix type. These findings provide valuable insights into the factors that influence the precision of Q matrices. They emphasize the benefits of increasing the number of matrices, understanding the impact of item parameters, and recognizing the performance disparities among different matrix types. Obtaining a comprehensive understanding of these relationships is vital for optimizing the design and implementation of cognitive diagnostic testing, ultimately guaranteeing accurate assessments of individual knowledge states. Secondly, analysis of the actual measurement data showed high identification repetition rates for the SSCQM and the reachability matrix, with a minimal difference in attribute mastery ratio. In summary, both the SSCQM and the USCQM demonstrate adequate performance when compared to other Q matrices under similar conditions. These findings emphasize the significance of prioritizing completeness in cognitive diagnostic testing. This research seeks to contribute to the advancement of cognitive diagnosis by addressing the limitations of existing test designs and introducing new techniques for constructing polytomous Q matrices. In addition, the findings presented in this paper offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to design high-quality cognitive diagnostic tests that accurately assess individual knowledge states. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Theory and History of Psychology

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C. W. Mateer and the spread of psychology in the late Qing dynasty: From the school where a mental philosophy course was first offered YAN Shu-Chang 2024, 56 (11):  1651-1660.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01651 Abstract ( 663 )   HTML ( 39 )   PDF (1328KB) ( 673 )   Peer Review Comments In the English literature of the 1840s-1860s, “mental philosophy” and “psychology” were used interchangeably, gradually transitioning to the term “psychology” after 1860. In Chinese, “mental philosophy” is generally translated as Xin Ling Xue心灵学, which later came to be considered psychology. In the process of examining the proposition that the first mental philosophy course in the history of Chinese psychology, analysis of Dengchow College diplomas from 1885 and 1889, the 1891 diploma style, and other historical data, supplemented by biographical information on C. W. Mateer about the early courses offered at the Dengchow College, revealed no evidence of a psychology program at Dengchow College in 1877. A curriculum from 1891 showing a course in Xin Ling Xue心灵学 in the sixth year suggests that Dengchow College may have offered psychology classes in 1896 or after 1897. The curriculum noted that “Several desirable branches, e.g., Mental Science and Physical Geography have been omitted for want of suitable textbooks.” There remains a lack of information about who taught these courses and what materials were used. Dengchow College offered psychology courses significantly later than Y. K. Yen at St. John’s College in 1880 and D. Z. Sheffield at Luhe Academy in Tungchow around 1892. Relevant information supports the teachers and teaching materials in these two schools. Mateer’s contribution to the spread of Western psychology during the late Qing dynasty is notable for his efforts in unifying psychological terminology and his attention to W. A. P. Martin's plan to write a textbook on Mental Philosophy, and his monograph, Xing Xue Ju Yu性学举隅. Among these efforts, his recognition of the term Xing Xue性学 as a translation for psychology were particularly significant. Mateer began his term on the School and Textbook Series Committee in May 1877, during which the Committee planned to develop a Chinese textbook on Mental Philosophy, with Martin taking responsibility. Both Mateer and Martin were members of the commission and maintained a close association. In October 1877, Mateer used the term “psychology” in an English article, providing commentary on its Chinese translation. Mateer’s interest in psychology was evident in his role as chair of the Publication Committee, established in 1890 to organize terminology. The responsibility for mental science terminology fell to Sheffield. Progress in the harmonization of terminology was slow until the establishment of the Scientific Terminology Committee in 1896, which significantly advanced this work. In his 1896 diary, Mateer noted that he had collected terminological work in fifteen disciplines, including psychology. In 1898, Martin published his monograph, Xing Xue Ju Yu性学举隅, which was followed by a critical essay from Mateer. Mateer highly praised the monograph, particularly its use of the term Xing Xue性学. Mateer’s involvement in the publication of Technical Terms, English and Chinese in 1904, where he served as editor, further highlights his contribution to the development of psychological terminology in China. Many of the psychological terms included in the book were derived from Sheffield’s unpublished teaching material on mental philosophy (around 1892), Yen’s book Xin Ling Xue (1889), and Martin’s monograph Xing Xue Ju Yu (1898). Mateer’s transition from opposing the original meaning of psychology in Chinese translation to adopting the term Xing Xue性学 illustrates his recognition of the contributions of traditional Chinese culture in creating Chinese terminology for psychology. This shift underscores his effort to draw nourishment from Chinese culture to facilitate the translation of Western studies. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics