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In deep mourning of Academician Guo Aike
Reports of Empirical Studies


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In deep mourning of Academician Guo Aike

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Exploring the integrity, complexity, and evolution of brain-cognition-psychology and inheriting the excellent traditional culture genes of the great Chinese nation Guo Aike 2025, 57 (7):  1119-1126.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1119 Abstract ( 2514 )   HTML ( 164 )   PDF (3214KB) ( 3941 )   Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Reports of Empirical Studies

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The centro-parietal N200: A neural marker for orthographical processing in visual Chinese one-character word recognition HU Wei, ZHANG Bao, JIA Xiaofei, CHEN Huixian, YUAN Jie, FANG Zhuo, ZHANG John Xuexin 2025, 57 (7):  1127-1138.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1127 Abstract ( 1670 )   HTML ( 53 )   PDF (3881KB) ( 2036 )   Peer Review Comments Over the last ten years, research on event-related potential has consistently demonstrated that the detection of visual Chinese disyllabic words involves a centro-parietal N200 component linked to orthographical processing. It is uncertain, though, if this component is present for the identification of individual characters. This investigation examined whether Chinese one-character words activate the centro-parietal N200 similarly to two-character words to test whether this component only reflexs the relative position information of two-character words. If the answer is negative, it indicates that the N200 primarily encodes word-form information, such as the spatial positional relationship between characters. If the answer is positive, it suggests that the N200 at least partially reflects the processing of word level orthographic information. With three experiments, the present paper explored the brain ERP response induced by one-character Chinese words. In Experiment 1, the ERP potentials induced by one-character and two-character Chinese words were compared under separate or mixed presentation conditions with a semantic judgement task, in which participants had to judge whether the presented stimulus was the name of an animal or a plant. In Experiment 2, a lexical decision task, in which participants had to judge whether the presented character was real or pseudo, was employed to determine if N200 is enhanced at the repetitive presentation condition for one-character Chinese words. Non-word character was also manipulated to further explore the nature of N200 effect in Experiment 3. Results showed that Chinese one-character words also elicited a clear N200 ERP component just like two-character words do. Moreover, the N200 enhancement effect in the condition of repetition priming was also found, and effect for real words was significantly greater than that for pseudo- and non-word. This revealed that around 200 milliseconds after the presentation of a one-character Chinese word, N200 can already distinguish whether a specific positional relationship of radicals has a pre-exiting representation in the brain, i.e., whether it is a real character. This means that real words have already been differentiated from pseudo-word and non-word at this stage. These findings suggest that the centro-parietal N200 component reflects the process of integrating visual features into single characters, acting as a neural marker for the orthographic processing of Chinese one-character words. This indicates that the N200 plays a crucial role in identifying and distinguishing between real-, pseudo- and non-word, providing insight into how the brain integrates visual information during early stages of reading. Furthermore, this discovery offers a new perspective for understanding the temporal dynamics involved in Chinese lexical recognition and the underlying cognitive mechanisms involved in processing written language. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Impact of point-light biological motion information on attentional network function in hearing-impaired individuals CHEN Jie, CAI Jiahui, LAN Yadi, LI Wenjie 2025, 57 (7):  1139-1153.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1139 Abstract ( 1219 )   HTML ( 59 )   PDF (1045KB) ( 1521 )   Peer Review Comments Biological motion conveys extensive social information. Thus, the accurate identification of biological motion information is essential for our survival and social development. Previous studies have suggested that auditory deprivation could alter the visual attention function of hearing-impaired individuals. However, the impact of biological motion information on the visual attention function of such individuals remains unclear. The attentional network test (ANT), along with a modified Flanker task, was used in the study to investigate the attentional network function in processing point-light biological motion information in hearing-impaired and hearing individuals. In Experiment 1a, the classical ANT was used to investigate the attentional network function of hearing-impaired individuals. In this task, in which the target stimulus comprised a series of arrows featuring a central arrow flanked by additional arrows, participants were required to judge the direction of the central arrow. In Experiment 1b, a modified version of the classical attentional network test was employed, using intact, local, and scrambled biological motion sequences as target stimuli to investigate the influence of biological motion information on the attentional network function. Experiment 2 employed an adapted version of the Flanker task to examine the executive control in processing intact, local, and scrambled biological motion sequences. In Experiments 1b and 2, participants were required to judge the walking direction of the central point-light biological motion. The results of Experiment 1a indicated that executive control efficiency was markedly lower in hearing-impaired than among hearing individuals. However, no significant differences were observed in alerting and orienting efficiencies between these two groups. Experiment 1b results indicated that hearing-impaired individuals had significantly lower efficiency in alerting and executive control in intact biological motion than hearing individuals. However, no significant differences were observed in the efficiencies of the three attentional networks between two groups in terms of processing local and scrambled biological motion. Experiment 2 results further revealed significantly lower efficiency of executive control in hearing-impaired than in hearing individuals for intact biological motion, but not for local or scrambled biological motion. Overall, the present study reveals that biological motion information could affect the attentional network function of hearing-impaired individuals. The findings not only deepen academic comprehension of the visual attention for biological motion information among hearing- impaired individuals but also offer empirical support for the specificity of local biological motion processing. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The same location cost is contingent for meaning: Suppression based on nontarget features and possible target positions WANG Huiyuan, GAO Yulin, ZHANG Ming 2025, 57 (7):  1154-1169.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1154 Abstract ( 759 )   HTML ( 42 )   PDF (578KB) ( 868 )   Peer Review Comments The same location cost refers to the slower responses of the valid cues compared with the responses of the invalid cues when the features of the cues and the targets are inconsistent. One hypothesis explaining the same location cost is feature-based suppression. The distractors with target features captured attention, whereas the irrelevant feature singletons led to the same location cost; this means that participants suppress feature singletons that do not match the target, causing delayed attentional allocation to this location. The other hypothesis is object updating, which suggests that the cues and the target with inconsistent features appearing in the same location are viewed as an object with changing features, and the delayed response to the target reflects the time cost of updating information on the changing object. However, whether the same location cost can occur at the level of abstract conceptual meaning remains to be studied. Here, we examined the conditions and factors for the occurrence of the same location cost contingent for meaning to determine the mechanism of spatial attentional allocation. A modified spatial cuing paradigm was employed in the current study. For each trial, the fixation display included central fixation and two peripheral boxes presented for 500 ms, the cue display was presented for 100 ms, after which the fixation display was presented again for 100 ms, and finally, the target display was presented for 500 ms. In our research, the semantic congruency between cues and targets, the semantic congruency between cues and nontarget items, and the locations of cues were manipulated. The cue effect is the difference between the response of the target when it does not appear at the position of the cue and the response when it appears at the position of the cue and serves as an indicator of the cue regulating spatial attention. Experiment 1 established the attentional inhibition setting for cues that were semantically consistent with nontarget features, and for the first time, we discovered the same location cost contingent for meaning. Experiment 2 excluded the semantic contingency between cues and nontarget items on the basis of Experiment 1, and the same location cost disappeared, indicating that the same location cost required attentional suppression on the basis of nontarget features. As a baseline experiment, Experiment 3 examined the impact of cues that were semantically unrelated to the target colour on visual spatial attentional orientation and revealed that the effects of cue validity were not significant under any target display conditions. Experiment 4 revealed that attentional allocation was different when cues appeared at possible and impossible target positions, with only the same location cost occurring when cues appeared at possible target positions. Experiment 5 excluded the meaningful contingency between cues and nontarget items based on Experiment 4, and the same location cost disappeared without being affected by the location of cues. To our knowledge, we have discovered for the first time the same location cost contingent for meaning and clarified its mechanism of occurrence. It is concluded that (1) the same location cost can occur at the level of abstract conceptual meaning, contingent on the current attentional control setting, which is strong enough; (2) when participants hold a strong attentional control setting that suppresses a certain feature or concept, objects that are consistent with that feature or concept will be suppressed; and (3) the same location cost contingent for meaning comes from the suppression of nontarget features but is limited to possible target locations and exhibits location-based specificity. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The effect of joint action contexts on time perception WANG Jun, ZHENG Zheng 2025, 57 (7):  1170-1186.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1170 Abstract ( 1662 )   HTML ( 145 )   PDF (1321KB) ( 2122 )   Peer Review Comments Previous studies have primarily focused on exploring the sources of time perception bias at an individual level, but few studies have investigated the mechanisms behind time perception bias in social contexts. To address this gap, the present study combined joint action and time perception paradigms with the goal of investigating time perception in social contexts and further examining the mechanisms of co-representation and/or social facilitation in joint temporal perception through three experiments. This study used a between-subject 2 × 2 experimental design, with the factors of context (individual vs. joint) and duration distribution (short intervals vs. long intervals). The stimulus durations were 400 ms or 1000 ms for the short interval group, and 1000 ms or 1600 ms for the long interval group. The varying intervals were indicated by yellow or green circles. Participants initially completed a learning task alone and were then randomly assigned to either an individual or joint context to complete a practice task. In the joint context, two participants who were unfamiliar with each other practiced with different temporal intervals and completed the experiment together. In the individual context, one participant sat alone on the left or right side of the screen to complete the experiment. During the learning phase, participants became familiar with the short- and long-interval stimuli. In the practice phase, solid orange circles of varying durations (from 400 ms to 1000 ms, in 100 ms increments) or solid green circles (from 1000 ms to 1600 ms, in 100 ms increments) were randomly shown on the screen. Participants then judged whether the duration of the stimulus was “short” or “long” based on criteria presented during the learning phase. In Experiment 1, we found that individuals’ subjective equivalence points were significantly altered, and their sensitivity to time perception was notably reduced in joint situations compared to individual situations. In Experiment 2, we stimulated co-representation by manipulating participants’ beliefs, and the absence of peers reduced the influence of social inhibition. Individuals had similar shifts in subjective equivalence points as observed in joint situations, but there was no significant change in temporal perceptual sensitivity. In Experiment 3, co-representation was attenuated by giving the peer a non-temporal estimation task, while the presence of peers elicited social inhibition. These findings demonstrated a significant decrease in individuals’ time-perception sensitivity compared to the individual situation, but no significant shift in subjective equivalence points was observed. In summary, the present study suggests that individuals in joint action contexts represent their peers’ task information through the mechanism of co-representation, which introduces bias in time estimation. Additionally, the presence of others creates competition for attentional resources, leading to a reduction in individuals’ sensitivity to time perception in joint action contexts. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Finite boundary extension of event scene memory: An example of a flight scene YAN Bihua, YANG Jingyi, LU Kailang 2025, 57 (7):  1187-1200.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1187 Abstract ( 875 )   HTML ( 56 )   PDF (2542KB) ( 1045 )   Peer Review Comments Visual scene perception and memory are important process for human adaptation to the environment, but the memory of the scene may produce errors. The memory errors at the scene boundaries are called boundary transformation, which is represented by boundary extension and boundary contraction. Boundary extension refers to the memory of a visual scene containing information beyond the actual boundary. Previous studies have focused on daily life scenes. Therefore, in this study, we focus on flight scenes, which have more complex factors than daily life scenes, such as huge objects, changes in three-dimensional spatial perspective, unnatural depth of field, and scene tilt. These complex factors may lead to perceptual distortions of the flight scene. There are differences in scene gist between non-accident scenes based on salient physical feature distribution and accident scenes based on negative events; these differences make them have different emotional valence and arousal. This study explores the boundary transformation properties of the two types of flight scene memories. The boundary transformation of non-accident and accident flight scenes was compared using the paradigm of rapid serial visual presentation, and the effects of scene object distribution, scene viewpoint, and scene perceptual distance on the level of boundary transformation were also examined. In Experiment 1, we investigated the effects of the centralized and decentralized distribution of aircraft objects on the level of boundary transformation of different types of flight scenes. In Experiment 2, we tested the boundary transformation characteristics of the two types of flight scene memories from both the horizontal and overlooking viewpoints. In Experiment 3, we examined the boundary transformation characteristics of the two types of flight scene memories by adding positive and negative extremal edges to change the perceived distance of the scenes. The data were collected using rapid serial visual presentation and judgmental confidence ratings. The findings are as follows. (1) The flight scene memories are more likely to present boundary extension. (2) The boundary extension level of the non-accident flight scenes with decentralized distribution was higher than that of the centralized distribution condition, and the boundary extension level of the non-accident flight scenes with an overlooking viewpoint was higher than that of a horizontal viewpoint. The confidence rating task in Experiment 1 also showed that the decentralized non-accident scenes obtained the highest ratings. (3) The aircraft distribution characteristics and viewpoints did not affect the boundary extension level of the flight accident scenes. (4) Reducing the perceived distance by adding positive extremal edges significantly increased the boundary extension of the non-accident flight scenes, and increasing the perceived distance by adding negative extremal edges significantly reduced the boundary extension of the flight accident scenes. In conclusion, boundary extension is more likely to occur in scene memory with the airplane as the primary object, which is called the visual saliency effect. The accident scene will activate the emotional attention mode due to its salient emotional scene gist so that its boundary extension is limited. The results illustrated that the normalization characteristics of scene memory and the explanation in the theory of the multisource model of scene perception can be defined according to the complexity of the scene gist. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The influence of fairness on adaptive episodic memory: The moderating role of relative reward LONG Yiting, JIANG Yingjie, YUAN Yuan, ZHANG Xiaojing, CONG Peiyao, GUO Yanlin 2025, 57 (7):  1201-1215.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1201 Abstract ( 2320 )   HTML ( 181 )   PDF (908KB) ( 3303 )   Peer Review Comments Episodic memory is of great significance due to its adaptability, as it allows individuals to employ fair information from past experiences to guide current decisions. However, although some studies have explored the impact of fairness on episodic memory using the dictator game paradigm, there is still no academic consensus on individual episodic memory biases. Specifically, it remains unclear whether lower or higher fair allocations are more likely to be remembered. Moreover, an often - overlooked issue is that, despite the high correlation and correspondence between fairness and reward in experiments, most existing studies have not fully considered or controlled the potential influence of rewards on memory. Consequently, with the aim of delving into the influence of fairness on episodic memory and the moderating effect of rewards therein, this research employed the dictator game paradigm. The degree of fairness was manipulated by varying the ratio of the two parties' payoffs, and three formal experiments were carried out. Experiment 1 was designed to disentangle the effects of rewards and fairness, with the purpose of uncovering the solitary impact of fairness on episodic memory. In contrast, Experiments 2 and 3 were dedicated to exploring and comparing the roles of different reward types. Specifically, in Experiment 2, relative rewards were manipulated within the context of small absolute rewards, while in Experiment 3, this was done under large absolute - reward conditions. By comparing the episodic memory outcomes of these two experiments, the effect of the magnitude of absolute rewards was elucidated. The results of Experiment 1 showed that when the reward was held constant and the allocations of different dictators varied only in fairness, high-fairness allocations led to better episodic memory. Experiments 2 and 3 results revealed the stable moderating role of relative rewards in the fairness-episodic memory relationship. Subjects preferred to remember low-fairness allocations with small relative rewards and high-fairness allocations with large relative rewards. Absolute rewards had no such effect and did not change the moderating function of relative rewards. This reveals a significant mutual enhancement effect between fairness and relative rewards when the motivation directions they evoke are consistent, both being either approach-oriented or avoidance-oriented. In addition, all experiments strongly verified the adaptability of episodic memory. People can use the episodic memory of past cooperation to guide future decisions, making them more favorable to themselves. In summary, this study provides a new perspective for understanding the formation mechanism of social episodic memory by revealing the complex interaction between social fairness and non-social reward factors. These findings not only enrich the theoretical framework of memory research, but also provide valuable references for decision-making in real life. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Qualitative exploration of negative experiences in counseling clients LI Muyang, LEI Ting, XIE Xie, GUO Zeyu, LIU Kexin, CHEN Wenqing, SUN Qinyi, DONG Yuntao, ZANG Yinyin 2025, 57 (7):  1216-1230.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1216 Abstract ( 2680 )   HTML ( 208 )   PDF (637KB) ( 3453 )   Peer Review Comments In China, a significant proportion of individuals with psychological disorders rarely seek psychological counseling, indicating the limited reach of mental health interventions. Despite common beliefs in the positive impact of psychological counseling, negative experiences, often unrecognized by counselors, can occur. The negative experiences in counseling may be attributed to a lack of counselor competence, poor therapeutic alliance, and high client expectations. However, considering the cultural discrepancies between Chinese traditions and Western-imported counseling practices, coupled with the unique development trajectory of the mental health industry in China, these findings may not fully encapsulate the negative experiences encountered by Chinese clients. Additionally, the lack of evidence-based practice in China could further contribute to adverse treatment outcomes. Therefore, this research aims to delve into the subjective negative experiences of Chinese clients in counseling. Adopting the sample size calculation method for qualitative research proposed by Fugard and Potts (2015), this study included 42 participants. Participant selection was designed to mirror the market demographics of clients, utilizing a combination of purposeful and quota sampling methods. Data were collected via semi-structured one-on-one telephone interviews, with an average length of 25 minutes. The interview question list was refined based on insights from the preliminary interviews. Following Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-step phenomenological thematic analysis, the study analyzed the transcripts to ensure a systematic and credible derivation of themes, with multiple validation processes throughout the coding and theme development phases. The analysis revealed four main themes concerning clients' negative experiences in counseling: (1) constraints inherent to the industry, (2) poor matching between the counselor and the client, (3) negative experiences associated with poor competence, and (4) dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes. The four main themes are further delineated into twelve subthemes for a detailed examination of the challenges faced. The first theme highlights two subthemes: the intrinsic characteristics of counseling, such as theoretical orientations, fixed counseling settings, and unequal power dynamics, as well as the development stage of the counseling industry in China, marked by the difficulty in finding qualified counselors and issues of cultural fit. The theme of mismatch between counselors and clients encompasses three subthemes: a mismatch in personal styles, hardship in trusting the therapist, and disliking the therapist. The theme of counselor incompetence, which contains the most significant number of nodes, is characterized by counselors' lack of professionalism and experience, proper attitudes, the ability to arrange sessions, and ethical violations. The final theme encapsulates clients' dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes, encompassing three subthemes: unmet expectations, negative effects of counseling, and becoming disappointed or stopping counseling. This study underscores the profound impact of industrial factors on clients' subjective experiences, particularly highlighting how issues such as cultural adaptability and the imbalance of power relations significantly influence these experiences. It also reveals deficiencies in the fundamental competencies of Chinese counselors. Furthermore, it acknowledges the potential for negative effects in psychological counseling and the significance of client expectations. These findings not only deepen and enrich our understanding of clients' negative experiences in the psychological counseling process but also highlight the complexity of the counseling process itself. The study emphasizes the interplay between clients, counselors, and the industrial environment. By identifying and understanding these negative experiences, the research offers insights for improving counselor training and contributes to the localization of counseling in China. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The two-factor structure of harm aversion and the mechanism underlying its function of resisting aggression CEN Yushan, XIA Lingxiang, HUANG Runyu, LÜ Jie 2025, 57 (7):  1231-1247.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1231 Abstract ( 1575 )   HTML ( 69 )   PDF (639KB) ( 1817 )   Peer Review Comments Harm aversion is a core component of human morality that prevents individuals from harming others and is crucial for biological evolution. It has the positive functions of reducing immoral behavior (such as aggression) and increasing prosocial behavior. Individuals who lack harm aversion may exhibit increased antisocial behavior, which in turn, may cause significant harm to other individuals and society in general. Therefore, exploring the concept of harm aversion has significant theoretical and practical value. However, it remains unclear whether harm aversion is composed of two relatively independent factors and how these two factors differ in their functions and mechanisms related to the inhibition of aggression. This study hypothesized that harm aversion comprises two independent factors: harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion. Additionally, both harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion can inhibit aggression, and moral disengagement is a crucial cognitive mechanism through which harm aversion inhibits aggression. A pilot study and three formal experiments were conducted to test these hypotheses. In the pilot study (N=40), incongruent conditions and congruent conditions based on the process dissociation procedure were developed to separate harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion. Participants completed the harm action/outcome aversion dissociation task, assessed the difficulty of choice and imagination, and provided suggestions for modifications. In Experiment 1 (N = 287), the modified harm action/outcome aversion dissociation task was used. The validity of this task was examined using criterion variables such as empathy, moral judgment, deontology parameter, psychopathy, physical aggression, and verbal aggression. Experiments 2a (N = 423) and 2b (N = 107) explored whether moral disengagement mediated the relationship between harm action/outcome aversion and aggression. Specifically, Experiment 2a used questionnaires to measure moral disengagement and aggression, while Experiment 2b employed an aggression task to measure moral disengagement and aggressive behavior levels. The pilot study demonstrated that the process dissociation procedure could effectively separate harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion. Experiment 1 found no significant correlation between harm action aversion (Parameter A) and harm outcome aversion (Parameter O). Both Parameters A and O were positively correlated with harm action aversion scores, empathy, moral judgment, and deontology parameter, and negatively correlated with psychopathy and physical aggression. Compared to Parameter A, Parameter O showed stronger relationships with empathy, psychopathy, and verbal aggression. The correlation between Parameter A and harm outcome aversion was not significant. In Experiments 2a and 2b, harm outcome aversion negatively predicted aggression through the mediating effect of moral disengagement. However, while Experiment 2a showed a mediating effect in that harm action aversion negatively predicted physical aggression through moral disengagement, this mediating effect was not significant in Experiment 2b. These results suggest, therefore, that harm aversion comprises two independent factors: harm action aversion and harm outcome aversion. Harm outcome aversion can inhibit aggression through moral disengagement, but the inhibitory effect of harm action aversion on aggression and moral disengagement is not robust. In developing a research tool for harm aversion, testing the two-factor structure of harm aversion, and examining its cognitive and behavioral differences in inhibiting aggression, this study revealed that moral disengagement is an important cognitive pathway through which harm aversion inhibits aggression. The findings contribute to the theoretical development of harm aversion, and they advance research on the relationship between moral emotions and aggression. This has significant implications for the prevention and intervention of aggressive behavior, as well as practical applications in moral education. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Do others value objective or subjective attributes more? Misprediction about others’ experiences FU Ruobing, LIN Xinmiao, LU Jingyi 2025, 57 (7):  1248-1261.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1248 Abstract ( 1898 )   HTML ( 180 )   PDF (520KB) ( 3532 )   Peer Review Comments To make satisfactory decisions for others, people must accurately predict the difference in others’ experiences with different options. Options differ in objective and subjective attributes. Objective attributes are more likely to be measured by an unequivocal, well-accepted criterion, while the evaluation of subjective attributes is more likely to be based on personal tastes. We term the option superior on objective attributes but inferior on subjective attributes as an objectively better option and the option superior on subjective attributes but inferior on objective attributes as a subjectively better option. The current research focuses on how people predict others’ experience with objectively better and subjectively better options, and proposes a misprediction: people overpredict the relative advantage of a subjectively better option versus an objectively better option in experience of others. This is because people undervalue how others are rational. Four studies demonstrated the proposed misprediction and tested its mechanism and consequences. Study 1 revealed the misprediction. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experiencer or the predictor condition. The experiencers did an objectively better task or a subjectively better task and reported their experience in this task. The predictors learned the experiencers’ task and predicted the experiencers’ experience. The results showed that people exaggerated the difference between the subjectively better task and the objectively better task in experience of others. Study 2 manipulated the predictors’ belief about others’ lay rationalism level to examine the mechanism. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: experiencer, predictor−control, predictor− rational, and predictor−irrational. Participants in the predictor-rational and predictor-irrational conditions were imposed a belief that others were rational and irrational, respectively. Replicating the results of Study 1, participants in the predictor−control and the predictor−rational conditions mistakenly predicted the difference in others’ experiences with the two options. However, participants in the predictor−rational made accurate predictions. Study 3 revealed that the misprediction cause excessive decisions of subjectively better options for others. We revealed this consequence in gift giving. The results indicated that givers were more likely to give a subjectively better gift, while receivers were more likely to receive an objectively better gift. Study 4 investigated another consequence that the misprediction cause financial losses for oneself. We told the predictors that they would gain bonus payments that equaled their paired experiencers’ experience ratings. The predictors learned that their paired experiencers were assigned to the objectively better task and they could pay to change the task from objectively better to subjectively better to gain more money. The results showed that due to the misprediction, predictors overpaid for the change and gained less. We reveal that people overpredict the relative advantage of a subjectively better option versus an objectively better option in experience of others due to the belief that others are irrational. Consequently, predictors over-select subjectively better options for others and cause financial loss for themselves. Our research contributes to misprediction, self-other difference, and lay rationalism, offering insights for decision-makers and marketers on how to improve the quality of decisions made for others and gain positive consumer reviews. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Acting unethical in the guise of family: The effects and mechanisms of unethical pro-family behavior NONG Meilan, ZHU Yu, WANG Yanfei 2025, 57 (7):  1262-1280.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1262 Abstract ( 2684 )   HTML ( 146 )   PDF (620KB) ( 5624 )   Peer Review Comments In the context of the ongoing societal emphasis on anti-corruption and ethical integrity, unethical pro-family behaviors have garnered increasing attention. These behaviors constitute a significant yet largely unexamined facet of workplace dynamics, with prior research predominantly concentrating on their antecedents, while their potential consequences have been relatively overlooked. Gaining insights into the implications of such unethical pro-family behavior is essential for the effective management of organizational behavior. The present study addresses this gap by examining the impacts of unethical pro-family behavior on employees’ work and family lives, as well as the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions. Drawing upon the uncertainty-identity theory, we have developed a comprehensive model to explore the consequences of unethical pro-family behavior. Utilizing a multifaceted approach that includes an experimental study, a multi-wave and multi-source field study, and a longitudinal study, we found that unethical pro-family behavior enhances employees’ family identification. Moreover, family identification mediates the relationship between unethical pro-family behavior and both organizational citizenship behavior and family incivility. Additionally, moral identity centrality serves as a boundary condition. When employees possess a high degree of moral identity centrality, the positive influence of unethical pro-family behavior on family identification, and its subsequent indirect effects on organizational citizenship behavior and family incivility, are mitigated. Furthermore, our longitudinal study indicates that the positive outcomes of unethical pro-family behavior are transient. Specifically, the indirect effect of unethical pro-family behavior in reducing family incivility through family identification dissipates after six weeks and may even indirectly foster family incivility after eight weeks. These findings offer novel insights into the complex and nuanced nature of the consequences of unethical pro-family behavior, which are more intricate than previously recognized. The aforementioned findings make several significant theoretical contributions. Firstly, by shifting the focus from antecedents to consequences, we advance the understanding of unethical pro-family behavior. Secondly, by examining the mediating role of family identification, we elucidate the mechanisms through which unethical pro-family behavior affects employees’ work and family lives, thereby extending our comprehension of the underlying processes. Thirdly, the investigation of the moderating role of moral identity centrality provides crucial insights into the conditions under which unethical pro-family behavior is likely to exert its effects, thereby enriching the theoretical framework of this research area and offering valuable implications for organizational interventions. Fourthly, by exploring the time-window effects of unethical pro-family behavior, we foster a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of its dynamics, providing a new direction for future research in related fields. Finally, we reveal the ambivalent nature of unethical pro-family behavior, contributing to the field of work-family interface research by applying the uncertainty-identity theory. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The shared consumption paradox: Financial scarcity hinders shared consumption LIU Xiaomin, WANG Xue, XIANG Hongyu, CHEN Zengxiang, SU Song 2025, 57 (7):  1281-1294.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1281 Abstract ( 1674 )   HTML ( 119 )   PDF (670KB) ( 2434 )   Peer Review Comments Drawing on the self-regulation model of resource scarcity, we propose a novel phenomenon termed the shared consumption paradox. While shared consumption offers advantages such as reduced costs and diverse benefits for financially constrained individuals, our research reveals that these individuals are paradoxically less inclined to engage in shared consumption. Our examination of the mechanisms underlying this paradox reveals that financial scarcity triggers a control restoration route. Individuals experiencing financial scarcity exhibit an increased need for psychological ownership of products, which consequently hinders their participation in shared consumption. We propose that accentuating product attribution can mitigate the adverse effects of financial scarcity on shared consumption. Moreover, this negative impact is diminished when the cost benefits of shared products are prominent or if individuals act as providers of shared items. Six empirical studies were conducted to validate this theoretical framework. Study 1, analyzing the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data, showed that lower-income households rented housing at lower rates. Study 2 established the causal relationship between financial scarcity and shared consumption, revealing that financial scarcity reduced individuals’ willingness to rent badminton rackets. Study 3 explored the mechanism underlying the shared consumption paradox and showed that financial scarcity decreased shared consumption by heightening the need for psychological ownership. Study 4 validated the mediating mechanism through moderation and revealed that emphasizing product attribution mitigated the inhibitory effect of financial scarcity on shared goods. Finally, Studies 5 and 6 identified the boundary conditions of the shared consumption paradox. The inhibitory effect diminished when either emphasizing the price advantages of shared consumption (Study 5) or positioning individuals as providers of shared goods (Study 6). This paper makes four major contributions. First, it systematically reveals the shared consumption paradox, thus providing a new perspective for research in the shared consumption field. Second, this work clarifies the mechanisms and boundary conditions of the shared consumption paradox based on the self-regulation model of resource scarcity, thus providing empirical support for this model. Third, it demonstrates that only financial scarcity reduces shared consumption, whereas other types of resource scarcity (e.g., time scarcity or natural resource scarcity) do not show this effect. This finding highlights the uniqueness of financial scarcity and expands resource scarcity theory. Finally, this research proposes effective methods to mitigate the shared consumption paradox, thus providing practical guidance for promoting shared consumption practices. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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An approach that can validate both Q-matrices and attribute hierarchies in cognitive diagnosis models: From the empirical application perspective WANG Ling-Ling, SUN Xiao-Jian 2025, 57 (7):  1295-1308.  doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.1295 Abstract ( 750 )   HTML ( 30 )   PDF (606KB) ( 776 )   Peer Review Comments Cognitive diagnostic models (CDMs) are developed to diagnostically evaluate subjects’ cognitive strengths and weaknesses based on the Q-matrix mapping of the items and attributes. The traditional calibration of cognitive attributes in the Q-matrix mainly relies on the subjective judgment of experts. Due to the subjective process of Q-matrix construction, there inevitably are more or less misspecifications in the Q-matrix, which, if left unchecked, may result in a serious negative impact on cognitive diagnostic assessment. From another important perspective, in the empirical applications of CDMs, cognitive attributes generally do not operate independently but rather belong to an interrelated network, and a certain psychological order, logical order, or hierarchical relationship may be present among the cognitive attributes. The correctness of both the Q-matrix and the attribute hierarchy significantly impacts the parameter estimation ability of a CDM and the accuracy of the examinee’s classification result. Recently, considerable studies have developed approaches for validating Q-matrices or testing attribute hierarchies respectively. However, there is no method that can validate both the Q-matrix and the attribute hierarchy simultaneously. From the empirical application perspective, an approach that can simultaneously validate both a prespecified Q-matrix and an attribute hierarchy is more desirable. An approach based on Bayesian networks (BN) for validating both Q-matrices and attribute hierarchies simultaneously is proposed in this research. To explore the performance of the BN method, this article conducted two simulation studies and one empirical data analysis to theoretically and practically evaluate the accuracy of the Q-matrix validation and attribute hierarchy correction processes. The correctness of each element in the Q matrix and the attributes hierarchy can be checked by testing the strength of edge existence in the network structure. When validating the attribute hierarchy relationships and the Q-matrix jointly in the first simulation, we explore the effects of Q-matrix error rate, item quality, test length, sample size, and the attribute hierarchy type on the correction accuracy of both the Q-matrix and the attribute hierarchy. The results show that the BN method can effectively correct the Q-matrix and the attribute hierarchy simultaneously when the error rate of the Q-matrix is at a medium or low level, especially when the item quality is high or the sample size is sufficient or the test length is long, the accuracy of the correction is generally high. As the Q-matrix error rate increases and the quality of the items decreases, the correction accuracy gradually decreases. The BN method can correct the attribute hierarchies exactly right when the Q matrix is correct. The results in the second simulation show that when the attribute number in the Q-matrix increases, the BN method is still performing well. Different types of attribute hierarchy errors have a small impact on the correction accuracy across different conditions. The effectiveness of the BN method in the empirical dataset was demonstrated by the better model data fit index of BIC. In conclusion, the initial specified Q-matrix and attribute hierarchy can be simultaneously validated via the BN method. Then the corrected Q-matrix and the refined attribute hierarchy obtained from the data-driven BN method can again be combined with the theoretical judgments of experts to obtain a more optimized model, finally achieving more accurate diagnostic outcomes in CDA practice. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics