Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-05-12
Abstract： Consumer guilt refers to negative feelings caused by consumer’s behavior that violates social norms or individual values. Consumer guilt exists universally in college students who are not economically independent yet but have a strong willingness to consume. However, few studies have systematically examined what caused consumer guilt in college students. Related research showed that people with different socioeconomic status (SES) had different psychological experience during consuming. Therefore, the level of consumer guilt may vary in college students with different SES. College students’ parents bring them up and also provide them financial support. As main factors of parent-child relationship, Parenting styles and parent-child communication probably moderate the relationship between SES and consumer guilt. Materialism is a value emphasizing the importance of material wealth in individual life. Individuals with high materialism are more likely to engage in irrational consumption, which leads to consumer guilt. That means different level of materialism probably influences the relationship between SES and consumer guilt. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the relationship between SES and consumer guilt. Furthermore, the current study also explores the moderating effects of parenting styles, parent-child communication, and materialism on the relationship between SES and consumer guilt. The current study recruited 560 college students online, who were from different Chinese universities(Mage = 20.94±1.99 years, 266 females). 560 participants completed questionnaires on anticipated and reactive consumer guilt, objective and subjective socioeconomic status, parenting styles, parent-child communication, and materialism. SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 4.1 were used to analyze data. The results showed that:(1) Objective SES significantly negatively predicted both anticipated consumer guilt and reactive consumer guilt, but subjective SES had no significant effect on anticipated and reactive consumer guilt. (2) Parenting styles and parent-child communication moderated the relationship between objective SES and consumer guilt. When parenting styles(high parents’ emotional warmth、low parents’ rejection and low father’s over protection) and parent-child communication (high conversation、low conformity) were positive, objective SES could significantly negatively predict consumer guilt; when parenting styles and parent-child communication were negative, objective SES had no significant effect on consumer guilt. (3) Materialism had no significant moderating effect on the relationship between objective SES and consumer guilt. The results indicate that objective SES may influence college students’ consumer guilt, and the protective role of family factors on the influence is more reflected in high objective SES college students.
Peer Review Status:
Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-05-09
Abstract： This paper presented three experiments investigating how individuals from Eastern cultural perceive their true selves through either intuitive or deliberate choices. Experiment 1 replicated the study conducted by Maglio and Reich (2019), employing a product selection task and utilizing instructions to initiate the decision-making process. Experiments 2 and 3 expanded the findings to tasks including partner selection and travel destination choice, manipulating the decision-making process through time pressure. The results contradicted established Western findings, suggesting that individuals from Eastern cultural believe that choices made through deliberation more accurately reflect their true selves, with choice confidence serving a mediating role. These findings shed light on the cultural variances in understanding the true self through intuition or deliberation.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-05-08
Abstract： When infectious diseases are prevalent, people are often reluctant to give blood for fear of infection, resulting in a “blood shortage” In response, blood collection agencies across China have launched relevant initiatives to encourage the public to donate blood. To recruit blood donors, blood collection agencies use different advertising strategies to attract people’s attention. For example, some display people in need of help and others display blood donors in their recruitment campaigns. What type or types of donation protagonist are most effective in recruitment campaigns during an infectious disease outbreak? This issue has become particularly important in recent years, with the increasing emergence of infectious diseases. It is therefore essential to understand how blood collection agencies should recruit donors when signs of infectious disease appear. Motivated by this issue, this study explored the joint impact of infectious disease cues and donation protagonists on the intention to donate blood and the psychological mechanisms underlying this impact.
Study 1 adopted a 2 (donation protagonist: donor vs. recipient) ´ 2 (infectious disease cues: yes vs. no) between-subjects design and used a reading comprehension task to manipulate the salience of infectious disease cues. We recruited 207 college students and randomly assigned them to one group with infectious disease cues and one without. The participants then viewed recruitment messages with different donation protagonists (donor vs. recipient). Next, the participants were asked whether they would be willing to donate blood. For those who answered yes and were willing to leave their contact details, we helped them make an appointment to donate blood at the nearest blood bank. Study 1 provided preliminary evidence that recipient (vs. donor) protagonists reduce people’s intention to donate blood when infectious disease cues are salient.
Studies 2A and 2B further supported the results of Study 1 by adding a no-donation protagonist and two control groups (accidental threat and non-infectious disease threat). Specifically, Study 2A adopted a 3 (donation protagonist: donor vs. recipient vs. none) × 2 (threat type: infectious disease vs. accident) between-subjects design and recruited 306 participants from a questionnaire platform. We manipulated the threat type through a slideshow. After viewing the slides, the participants viewed recruitment messages with different donation protagonists and reported their intention to donate blood. Study 2B adopted a 3 (donation protagonist: donor vs. recipient vs. none) × 2 (threat type: infectious disease vs. non-infectious disease) between-subjects design and recruited 285 participants from the questionnaire platform. We used pictures and text to manipulate the contagiousness of the disease. After viewing the slides, the participants viewed recruitment messages with different donation protagonists and reported their intention to donate blood. The results showed that compared with donor protagonists, recipient protagonists played a less effective role and reduced people’s willingness to donate blood when exposed to an infectious disease (vs. accident and non-infectious disease) threat.
Study 3 adopted a single-factor (donation protagonist: donor vs. recipient vs. none) between-groups design and recruited 151 participants from the questionnaire platform. The priming material for the infectious disease cues was a short news report on COVID-19 reinfection. The participants were randomly divided into three groups after viewing the news report to view recruitment information on donation protagonists. The participants then reported their willingness to donate blood using the same measurement scale as in Study 2A. Next, the participants reported their state anxiety. In addition, to rule out alternative explanations, the participants reported their levels of empathy, perceived threat, medical fear, and other state-based emotions (disgust and fear). The results showed that recipient (vs. donor) protagonists increased the participants’ anxiety levels, thereby reducing their willingness to donate blood.
Studies 4A and 4B examined the moderating role of self-construal by measuring chronic self-construal and situational self-construal and further verified the mediating role of state anxiety. Specifically, Study 4A adopted a 2 (donation protagonist: donor vs. recipient) × 2 (self-construal: interdependent vs. independent) between-subjects design and recruited 199 participants from the questionnaire platform. We measured the participants’ blood donation intention, state anxiety, empathy, perceived threat, medical fear, and other state-based emotions (disgust and fear) by priming infectious disease cues as salient. Finally, the participants’ chronic self-construal was measured. Study 4B adopted a 2 (donation protagonist: donor vs. recipient) × 2 (self-construal: interdependent vs. independent) × 2 (infectious disease cues: yes vs. no) between-subjects design and recruited 357 participants from the questionnaire platform. Study 4B used the pronoun-circling method to manipulate self-construal, and the participants then reported information consistent with Study 4A. The results revealed that the participants with an interdependent orientation who viewed recruitment messages with recipient (vs. donor) protagonists exhibited increased state anxiety, which reduced their intention to donate blood.
In summary, the results of the four studies provide strong empirical evidence for the joint effect of infectious disease cues and donation protagonists on blood donation intention, the moderating impact of self-construal on this joint effect, and the underlying psychological mechanism due to state anxiety.
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-05-03
Abstract： The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology significantly contributes to enhancing productivity; however, concerns regarding potential technological unemployment have garnered considerable attention. The uncertainty surrounding the occurrence, timing, and scale of AI-induced unemployment impedes definitive conclusions. This uncertainty may also lead the public to be influenced by encountered information concerning AI-induced unemployment. Media coverage on AI-induced unemployment often presents extensive information regarding affected industries, occupations, and probability scales, establishing two numerical information frameworks: one emphasizing factors influencing unemployment distribution across industries and another emphasizing the probability of unemployment occurrence. Comparatively, the probability framework, as opposed to the factor framework, allows individuals to formulate judgments indicating a reduced likelihood of AI-induced unemployment, thereby mitigating the perceived threat of AI, especially among individuals with high ambiguity tolerance. Building upon the foundational assumption that the probability framework alleviates AI threat perception, this study, comprising seven recursive experiments, investigates the mediating role of judgments on AI-induced unemployment likelihood and the moderating role of individual ambiguity tolerance. Experiment 1 juxtaposes AI threat perception elicited by general AI-induced unemployment descriptions, factor frameworks, and probability frameworks. Experiment 2 validates the mediating role of likelihood judgments. Experiments 3 and 4 respectively eliminate potential influences of probability values and unemployment scale. Experiment 5 explores ambiguity tolerance’s moderating effect. Experiments 6 and 7 examine subsequent AI threat effects, including support for AI development policies and willingness to recommend various occupations. The primary findings are as follows. Firstly, introducing AI-induced unemployment through a probability framework effectively diminishes AI threat perception (Experiments 1-7). Secondly, this effect is mediated by perceived likelihood, whereby the probability framework prompts individuals to form judgments indicating decreased AI-induced unemployment likelihood, thus reducing AI threat (Experiments 2-5). Thirdly, the information framework effect is moderated by ambiguity tolerance, primarily manifesting among individuals tolerant of ambiguous information (Experiment 5). Fourthly, individuals influenced by the probability framework demonstrate increased support for policies related to AI development, with AI threat playing a mediating role (Experiment 6). Lastly, individuals influenced by the probability framework exhibit a heightened willingness to recommend jobs involving frequent AI interaction (Experiment 7). This study extends prior research by elucidating how external factors such as information frames contribute to variations in AI threat perception. Unlike the extensively studied valence information frame, numerical information frames impact AI threat perception by altering individuals’ likelihood judgments. Our findings shed light on the effects of the numerical information framework on AI-induced unemployment threat perception, policy support, and job recommendation willingness.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-26
Abstract： Memories of individuals are typically encoded, stored, recalled, and reconstructed through direct or indirect interactions with others. Cuc et al. (2007) founded that during interactive retrieval, speakers’ selective recall of memories results in the forgetting of non-target information related to the retrieved information, a phenomenon known as retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF). Simultaneously, listeners in this interactive process are also influenced by the speakers’ selective recall, leading to the forgetting of relevant but not retrieved information, a phenomenon termed socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting (SS-RIF). Building on the intertwined connection between emotion, motivation, and memory, this study investigates the impact of emotional valence and motivation on socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting in the context of interactive retrieval.
In Experiment 1, emotional valence and item type were manipulated to explore the influence of emotional valence on socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting. The experiment employed a within-participants design of 3 (emotional valence: positive emotion, neutral emotion, negative emotion) × 4 (item type: Rp+, Rp−, Nrp+, Nrp−). The dependent variable was participants’ recall accuracy of items under the three emotional conditions. The results demonstrated that listeners exhibited socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting effects under positive and neutral emotions but not under negative emotions in the interactive retrieval practice paradigm. Additionally, the effect was more pronounced under positive emotions compared to neutral emotions, aligning with our Hypothesis 1.
Experiment 2 manipulated positive emotional motivation and item type to investigate the impact of motivation on socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting. The experiment employed a within-participants design of 2 (positive emotional motivation dimension: high-motivation with positive emotion, low-motivation with positive emotion) × 4 (item type: Rp+, Rp−, Nrp+, Nrp−). Results indicated that listeners exhibited socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting effects under both high- and low-motivation with positive emotional conditions, consistent with the findings of Experiment 1. Moreover, the level of socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting was significantly higher under high-motivation with positive emotions compared to low-motivation with positive emotions, supporting our Hypothesis 2.
These findings offer empirical support for comprehending the impact of emotional valence and motivation on socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting, underscoring the crucial role of emotion and motivation in memory outcomes during social interactive tasks.
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-25
Abstract： This review explores the complex attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the perspectives of benefit theory, threat theory, and dialectical relations. Initially, the discussion highlights how AI, as a form of technological advancement, fosters work efficiency, decision-making quality, and innovation across various domains, reflecting the optimistic evaluations and expectations placed on AI. Subsequently, the review shifts focus on the potential threats presented by AI, including privacy infringement, job market disruption, and ethical dilemmas, showcasing the critical concerns surrounding AI development. Moreover, examining AI from a dialectical standpoint underscores the importance of balancing technological innovation with ethical considerations. This entails a discussion on future research directions, emphasizing cross-cultural ethical explorations and the enhancement of human-AI collaboration. The review concludes that a comprehensive understanding and evaluation of AI necessitate transcending singular viewpoints, incorporating multidisciplinary insights to facilitate the sustainable development and social integration of AI technologies.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-24
Abstract： “Well-being” is a core research topic in the field of positive psychology, which is also a focal point of great interest in contemporary society. While a general consensus exists on the conceptions of Well-being, cultural norms and values significantly shape individuals’ perceptions and pursuits of well-being. For example, in collectivist cultures, Well-being is closely linked with community relationships and social harmony; while in individualistic cultures, well-being is more frequently associated with personal achievement and autonomy. Understanding these subtle differences between cultures is vital for developing effective strategies to enhance well-being. Future research should consider cultural factors thoroughly and conduct more detailed cross-cultural studies on well-being, aiming to design culturally effective interventions that respect and integrate different cultural perspectives on promoting well-being.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-24
Abstract： Aggressive behavior serves a certain adaptive function, which may directly manifest in the emotional experience of the aggressor. Numerous experimental studies have found that individual aggressive behavior can enhance positive emotions. The reinforcement model of aggression, from the perspective of group evolution, provides theoretical support for these findings, suggesting that throughout human evolution, aggressive behavior became intrinsically rewarding as it frequently became associated with external benefits. However, experimental studies may suffer from issues of ecological validity, as non-adaptive features of aggressive behavior tend to be more prominent in real-life situations. Baumeister and Campbell’s perspective, along with their proposed opponent-process theory, emphasizes the maladaptive effects of aggression on emotions. As trait aggression increases, negative emotions during aggressive episodes gradually diminish, and positive emotions gradually intensify. This study, grounded in the two aforementioned theories, investigated the impact of individual aggressive behavior on emotional experiences and the moderating role of trait aggression, both in laboratory and real-life settings./t/nIn Study 1, we recruited 170 college students for an experiment. Participants initially completed the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule(PANAS) to measure baseline emotions, then engaged in the Competitive Reaction-Time Task. After the task, participants reported their emotional experiences during successful noise blasts using PANAS and completed the Angry Aggression Scale. Hierarchical regression analysis was employed to examine the influence of aggressive behavior on emotions and the moderating effect of trait aggression. In Study 2, we recruited 154 college students for a 10-day, five times a day experience sampling measurement. During each measurement, participants reflected on their experiences in the last 30 minutes and completed the Aggression-ES-A along with measures of PANAS. Multi-level regression models were fitted to analyze the relationship between individual aggressive behavior and emotional experiences, as well as the cross-level moderating effect of trait aggression./t/nThe results of Study 1 indicated that aggressive behavior positively predicted individuals’ positive emotions and had no significant association with negative emotions. The moderating effect of trait aggression on the associations was not significant. The results of Study 2 revealed that in real-life situations, individual aggressive behavior negatively predicted positive emotions and positively predicted negative emotions. Trait aggression played a moderating role in the aforementioned associations, specifically manifesting as an increase in trait aggression was associated with a gradual increase in the slope of the former and a gradual decrease in the slope of the latter./t/nFrom the two studies, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) In laboratory situations, aggressive behavior has an adaptive impact on individuals’ emotional experiences, primarily by enhancing positive emotions. (2) In daily life, the impact of aggressive behavior on emotions exhibits non-adaptive characteristics, resulting in a reduction in positive emotions and an increase in negative emotions. Trait aggression moderates this effect, with an increase in trait aggression gradually eliminating the non-adaptive impact of aggressive behavior on emotions and beginning to reveal its positive impact on positive emotions. This study, from an emotional perspective, reflects the adaptive significance of aggression: at the laboratory level, aggressive activities can directly generate a pleasurable effect, and in real-life situations, with an increase in trait aggression, the pleasurable aspect of aggressive behavior begins to appear.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-23
Abstract： ChatGPT has emerged as a key technology shaping daily life and influencing future developments. The younger generation perceives and understands this representative AI product reflects their technological outlook, which will directly impact the future technological landscape in our country. This study utilizes the Weibo platform to access online discourse related to ChatGPT, analyzing the contemporary youth’s technological perspectives and underlying development views from the dimensions of language, emotion, and theme. The research reveals that young individuals tend to scrutinize ChatGPT from a practical and utilitarian perspective, maintaining an optimistic and reflective stance towards its development and application. They actively deconstruct technological logic for knowledge transformation, emphasizing the enhancement of individual capabilities through human-technology interaction while also considering the economic utility of technology. Faced with technological challenges and international disputes, the youth are both vigilant and hopeful for their country’s technological rise. As both practitioners and future leaders in technology, the younger generation plays a crucial role. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the current technological perspectives of the youth and provide valuable insights and recommendations for future technological innovation and youth education.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-23
Abstract： Prosocial behavior is suggested to be a central feature of human life and there is an ongoing debate regarding whether individuals have, therefore, developed a general intuitive tendency to act prosocially or not. Although previous studies have found various indicators of intuitive prosociality from different perspectives, evidence on the potential causal relationship between processing mods and prosocial behavior is mixed. The social heuristics hypothesis (SHH), as a theoretical framework to address this conflicting issue, suggests that associations between processing mode and prosocial behavior are complex and multifaceted, influenced by individual variability and the contexts in which it occurs. A previous study has revealed that intuitive prosocial behavior is more likely to emerge in a perceived emergency that require immediate response. We expected that processing mode (intuition vs. deliberation) will impact people’s decision-making in different helping situations.
The study focused on charitable giving. Using event-related potentials (ERPs), we examined the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of processing mode and emergency on helping behaviors. We explored whether a neural signature that rapidly encodes the motivational salience of an event, the P3, can be regulated by processing mode × situation interaction or not. Participants were required to allocate varying amounts of money between themselves and charities they initially labelled as emergency or non-emergency situation that promoted intuitive or deliberative decision making. Each participant received 70 CNY. An instruction on the screen explained that the task required participants to “Accept” or “Reject” donation offers affecting their 70 CNY. To manipulate processing mode, each participant completed fast donation sessions where they were instructed to make decisions as fast as possible, and slow donation sessions where they were instructed to stop and reflect for at least 5 seconds before deciding. EEG signals were recorded during decision making.
The behavioral results indicated that both average contributions and average acceptance rates were affected by emergency, with emergency events eliciting more helping behavior compared to non-emergency events. Moreover, participants considered the offer costliness when making decisions. In emergency situations, participants were more likely to accept high-cost offers than in the non-emergency situations. The ERP components analysis revealed that: a) In the early stages, intuitive processing induced a more negative anterior N1 (AN1) compared to deliberative processing; b) Deliberative processing was associated with a more positive P2 compared to intuitive processing; c) In non-emergency situations, deliberative processing induced a more positive P3 compared to intuitive processing, whereas no significant differences were observed between processing mode in emergency situations.
These results suggest that prosocial behavior is affected by both the emergency of event and the costliness of the offer. As costs increase, individuals are more inclined to help in emergency situations than in non-emergency situations. Furthermore, processing mode affects individual’s early attention and the evaluation of stimuli. Stimuli in intuition condition can capture more early attention, while stimuli in deliberation condition receive more thorough processing. Notably, deliberative processing of non-emergency events involves greater decision-making conflicts and consumes more psychological resources. Overall, these findings shed light on the connection between processing mode and human prosociality, and extend our understanding of the social heuristics hypothesis.
Subjects: Psychology >> Experimental Psychology Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-20
Abstract： Emotional arousal significantly enhances memory encoding processes, and this enhancement extends to subsequent memories within a defined temporal window. Nevertheless, extant research on the interplay between emotion and memory has predominantly concentrated on elementary emotional states such as happiness or fear. In contrast, the mechanisms by which complex emotions enhance memory encoding remain understudied. To address this gap, our study comprises three experimental investigations aimed at elucidating the selective impact of complex social emotions on subsequent memory encoding.
Our initial experiment (Experiment 1, N=152) employed a questionnaire to assess the motivation levels for learning Civics among participants, which laid the groundwork for further empirical inquiry. Subsequent experiments (Experiments 2 and 3, with a combined participant total of N=241) examined how arousal from complex social emotions—specifically, a sense of national crisis and national pride—selectively influences memory encoding. In Experiment 2, we adopted a between-subjects design, randomly assigning participants to three groups: crisis, pride, and neutral. These groups underwent sessions of emotional arousal followed by tasks involving the encoding and retrieval of Civics material. Experiment 3 replicated the procedure of Experiment 2 but shifted the focus of memory encoding to mathematical statistical learning.
The results revealed a lack of sufficient motivation among college students to learn Civics materials. Crucially, we found that arousal induced by feelings of national crisis and pride prior to memory encoding tasks selectively enhanced the encoding of Civics materials. Interestingly, this enhancement did not extend to the memorization of statistical data or images unrelated to national emotions. This outcome substantiates the hypothesis that arousal from national emotions selectively augments memory encoding of thematically relevant content.
By integrating questionnaire-based assessments, manipulations of social-emotional arousal, and a memory encoding-retrieval paradigm, our study demonstrates that complex social-emotional arousal markedly enhances the specificity of memory encoding. These findings significantly advance our understanding of the complex interrelations between social emotions and memory functions. Additionally, they provide empirical support for refining educational strategies in the domain of ideological and political education in higher education institutions.
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Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-08
Abstract： As an indispensable behavior in human social activities, cooperation has attracted the great attention of scholars in various fields. Although previous studies have proved that shared experiences can promote cooperative behavior, little attention has been paid to the social event-based shared experiences that interact with others in life. Especially, little attention has been paid to task-based co-experiences, which are often encountered in life and learning. Therefore, the present study explores the relationship between task-based co-experiences and cooperative behavior, and the changes in cooperative behavior after the task is success or failure. Present study used three experiments to explore the relationship between task-based shared experiences and cooperative behavior, and the role of trust, interpersonal distance, and experience success or failure. In study 1, participants were randomly assigned to either task-type shared experience or task-type different experience conditions. In the task-type shared experience condition, two participants were required to complete the same task (memory task), and in the task-type different experience condition, two participants completed different tasks (memory task or summary task). Using the public goods dilemma to measure cooperative behavior, it is found that cooperative behavior is higher under task-based shared experiences than under task-based different experiences. Study 2 made some improvements on study 1 to rule out other possible explanations, and measured trust and interpersonal distance to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between task-based shared experiences and cooperative behavior, and found that trust and interpersonal distance mediate the effects of task-based shared experiences on cooperative behavior. Study 3 further explored the influence of experience success or failure on cooperative behavior, and found that, compared with failed task-based co-experiences, successful task-based co-experiences promoted cooperative behavior more, while different experiences had no effect on cooperative behavior, trust and interpersonal distance, still, mediate process. This study enriched the relevant research on shared experience, and provided some guidance and suggestions for improving group cooperation and promoting group cohesion.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-07
Abstract： Social exclusion is a pervasive negative phenomenon that arises within various social contexts, and while its detrimental effects are well-documented, the underlying causes of exclusionary behavior remain insufficiently explored. This study seeks to delve into the factors and mechanisms that drive such behavior, with a particular emphasis on environmental influences that have been largely overlooked in previous research. Researches posit that social crowding—a condition that threatens one’s sense of personal space—can lead to the adoption of exclusionary behaviors as individuals seek to mitigate feeling of discomfort or threat. Furthermore, social crowding is known to evoke negative affect, which significantly influences interpersonal dynamics and can exacerbate tendencies towards social exclusion. Additionally, perceived control is often diminished under crowded conditions, leading to increased negative affect. The impact of social crowding is further modulated by the nature of the group, with different relationships between the individual and the crowding group eliciting varied behavioral responses. To test these propositions, two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 (n = 171) utilized a between-subjects design to compare the effects of crowded versus uncrowded priming. By employing visual stimuli to manipulate perceptions of crowdedness, alongside measures of perceived control and the Chinese Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, the study employed a stigmatization-induced Cyberball paradigm to investigate the direct and mediating effects of social crowding on exclusionary behavior. Experiment 2 (n = 144) expanded the scope by introducing a 2 (crowdedness: crowded vs. uncrowded) x 2 (group type: acquaintances vs. strangers) between-subjects design. This experiment further manipulated group type through instructions and continued to use visual stimuli and the Cyberball paradigm to assess the impact of social crowding and the moderating influence of group type on social exclusion. The results of Experiment 1 revealed that participants in priming crowded condition were more likely to engage in exclusionary behavior and reported a heightened sense of exclusion compared with those in uncrowded condition. Experiment 1 also provided evidence for a sequential mediating role of perceived control and negative affect, suggesting that social crowding may precipitate negative affect by eroding feelings of control, thus paving the way for exclusionary actions. But the directing mediating effect of negative affect and the independent effect of social crowding were not significant. Experiment 2 replicated the significant main effect of social crowding, with participants in priming crowded conditions exhibiting increased exclusionary behavior and subjective feelings of exclusion. Moreover, the introduction of group type as a variable revealed that the effect of social crowding was significant only when the crowding group consisted of strangers, and not when the group was composed of acquaintances. In conclusion, the current research demonstrates that social crowding is a significant predictor of social exclusion, with perceived control and negative affect serving as fully sequential mediators in this relationship. The moderating effect of group type further refines our understanding of how social crowding influences exclusionary behavior. These findings nor only expand the scope of social crowding’s effects but also provide novel insights into the mechanisms driving social exclusion, offering theoretical and practical support for addressing and resolving interpersonal conflicts.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-05
Abstract： Awe, a pervasive and essential positive emotion, has primarily been explored through the lens of Western cultural archetypes, focusing significantly on the profound effects of natural awe inspired by landscapes. However, as scholarly attention begins to shift towards awe’s social underpinnings, the discourse has been largely limited to the remarkable exploits of eminent personalities. This research takes a novel turn, delving into the ordinary social experiences of the wider population. It taps into the rich tapestry of awe as portrayed in Chinese traditional culture, introducing the concept of Yugong spirit awe. This form of awe diverges from the conventional, embracing a distinctly social dimension over the natural, championing a human-centric approach over a divine focus, prioritizing spiritual significance above sheer power, and advocating inclusivity rather than elitist exclusivity. Yugong spirit awe is thus conceptualized as a distinctive awe experience elicited by observing individuals’ steadfast resolve and persistent efforts to alter challenging natural landscapes. This unique perspective redefines the essence of awe within the context of persevering human spirit and collective resilience, drawing from the deep wells of cultural heritage and communal ethos.The present research encompassed four studies, consisting of six sub-studies: a pilot study, four experimental studies, and one field study. These studies first investigated whether yugong spirit awe is a sibling (related but distinct) construct with natural awe. Additionally, these studies examined the effects of yugong spirit awe in increasing willingness of high-income individuals to donate. In the pilot study, participants were provided with materials describing four contemporary events that exemplify the yugong spirit in Chinese society. These events included the construction of Minning Town, the Hongqi Canal, the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan Hospitals, and the Guoliang Hanging Wall Highroad. The results revealed that all four events were perceived as awe-inspiring. Subsequently, in studies 1a and 1b, conducted respectively using within-subject and between-subject experimental designs, the results affirmed that the sense of awe evoked by yugong spirit events (such as the construction of the Guoliang Hanging Wall Highroad) stemmed from the unwavering determination and relentless spirit exhibited by humans, as opposed to the influence of natural landscapes. Moving forward to Study 2, which employed a between-subject experiment, the results suggested that yugong spirit awe was more effective in reducing negative stereotypes about impoverished groups compared to natural awe. Study 3a, conducted as a laboratory experiment, demonstrated that yugong spirit awe could enhance the donation willingness of individuals who subjectively considered themselves to be high-income earners. Finally, in Study 3b, a field experiment supported the impact of yugong spirit awe on the donation willingness and actual donation of real high-income individuals. In sum, the present research reveals that yugong spirit awe is prevalent in contemporary Chinese society (pilot study) and represents a unique form of awe compared to natural awe (studies 1a, 1b, and 2). Yugong spirit awe shows unique effect in countering negative stereotypes about disadvantaged groups (studies 2, 3a, and 3b) and in enhancing the donation willingness of high-income individuals (studies 3a and 3b). This study not only enriches our understanding of awe rooted in Chinese cultural perspective but also provides fresh insights into fostering societal well-being and advancement.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-03
Abstract： In online charitable giving, low donation conversion rates present a significant challenge. While much of the prior research in this area has concentrated on factors tied to existing fundraising practices, our research proposes and examines a novel factor that could significantly impact donation conversion rates: the addition of a ‘donation cart’. Our findings suggest that adding a ‘donation cart’ can boost donations in online fundraising, which we termed the online ‘donation cart’ effect. This effect occurs because adding a ‘donation cart’ makes it easier for people to make initial decisions (i.e., deciding to add to the donation cart) and subsequently ensures consistency in their donation decisions. Furthermore, we propose that the preference for consistency moderates the ‘online donation cart’ effect, such that this effect is attenuated among those with a lower (vs. higher) preference for consistency.
We conducted six studies to test our propositions. Study 1 was a mini-program experiment designed to simulate a real online fundraising environment. We developed two simulated donation platforms—one with the addition of a ‘donation cart’ and one without—to compare their fundraising performances. Subsequently, Studies 2A, 2B, and 3 were three controlled experiments that examined the joint underlying mechanisms of the online ‘donation cart’ effect: perceived decision difficulty and consistency motive. Specifically, Studies 2A and 2B compared individuals’ perceived decision difficulty and their decision intention when deciding whether to ‘add to the donation cart’ vs. ‘donate immediately’. Study 3 evaluated the impact of adding (vs. not adding) a ‘donation cart’ on individuals’ consistency motive and donation intention. Lastly, Studies 4A and 4B both measured and manipulated individuals’ preference for consistency, examining the interaction effect between adding (vs. not adding) a ‘donation cart’ and levels (lower vs. higher) of preference for consistency on individuals’ donation intentions.
As predicted, Study 1 demonstrated that adding (vs. not adding) a ‘donation cart’ significantly boosted donations, thus supporting the online ‘donation cart’ effect. Studies 2A and 2B further revealed that deciding whether to ‘add to the donation cart’ (vs. ‘donate immediately’) was perceived as easier, thereby increasing individuals’ decision intention. Study 3 then established that adding (vs. not adding) a ‘donation cart’ strengthened individuals’ motivation for consistency related to their initial decisions, which ultimately increased their donation intention. Lastly, Studies 4A and 4B found that the online ‘donation cart’ effect was attenuated in individuals with a lower (vs. higher) preference for consistency, confirming the moderating role of the preference for consistency.
This research contributes to the literature on donation behavior, deepening our grasp of online charitable behavior by uncovering previously unexplored determinants. Moreover, it provides practitioners in the charitable sector with important practical insights, setting the stage for more effective strategies in digital philanthropy.
Subjects: Psychology >> Cognitive Psychology Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-02
Abstract： The rationality of moral judgment is determined by the judgment of what is justice. An impartial judgment needs a clear logical structure, including the identification of evidence and the analysis of the rationality of judgment criteria. The justice evaluation of social affairs should be based on principle evaluation, followed by utilitarian evaluation of social utility. Sorting out the relevant information of the event as much as possible is the data basis for impartial moral judgment. Comprehensive and sufficient empathy is the methodological basis for impartial moral judgment. The universal values, which are characterized by rationality, justice, equality, fraternity, tolerance, etc., are the normative basis for impartial moral judgment.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Cognitive Psychology Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-01
Abstract： The value of music in human evolution may be attributed to its social functions. Research has shown that both music listening and joint music-making foster prosocial behaviors and the development of prosocial skills. In order to explain these effects, we propose a theoretical model, suggesting that music enhances individuals’ empathy and positive emotional experiences through emotional contagion, while the entrainment effect of rhythm facilitates interpersonal synchrony. Furthermore, the interaction between emotional contagion and rhythmic entrainment can further enhance the prosocial effects of music. Oxytocin, the endogenous opioid system, the dopamine reward system, and auditory-motor coupling may serve as potential neurobiological foundations for the prosocial effects of music. Future research could employ the multi-pathway theoretical model to examine the prosocial effect of music and its mediating mechanisms, providing further evidence for the music-social bonding hypothesis.
Subjects: Psychology >> Developmental Psychology Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-03-28
Abstract： Sharing our positive feeling with friends or turning to them for help when we are sad is immensely common in daily life. The process by which an individual consciously regulates the emotions of others is called interpersonal emotion regulation. Differ from intrapersonal emotion regulation, interpersonal emotion regulation is influenced by the emotional state of both parties. This study aims to elucidate this influence on interpersonal emotion regulation, including interpersonal emotion regulation effect and strategy selection. Experiencing the same emotions helps to identify other’s emotion and help them control their emotions. If so, we can validate the mood-congruence effect in interpersonal emotion regulation and further explore the underlying mechanisms.
In this study, we used an adapted emotion selection paradigm. 51 pairs of best friends (experiencers and regulators) were randomly chosen from one university and filled out the Friendship Quality Questionnaire prior to the experiment. Each pair of best friends completed the experiment in two separate and quiet rooms. During the formal experiment, both of them were presented with different emotional events and their emotional state were recorded before and after the experiment of interpersonal emotion regulation. And then, the experiencers were asked to anticipate the strategy that the regulator may use. After that, the experiencers were first asked to share their emotional events or mood with the regulators and seek for help via WeChat. The regulators completed emotion regulation after receiving the help signals. The results showed the emotional consistency effect, that is, when the emotions of both sides(experiencers and regulators) were consistent, comparing with the regulation effects when the emotions were inconsistent, both the interpersonal regulation effect of experiencers and the self-regulation effect of regulators were better. Meanwhile when the emotions were inconsistent, negative emotions were preferentially regulated whoever in that emotion state. In addition, only in interpersonal regulation of negative emotions, the strategy matching degree is affected by the emotional state of the regulators. Experiencers experienced better interpersonal regulation in negative emotional states than in positive emotional states.
Based on the finding in Study 1, we speculate that the emotional consistency effect in interpersonal emotion regulation may partly originate from the preferential processing of negative emotions. By sorting through the previous literature, we thought that self-regulation by the regulators may led to the allocation of cognitive resources. Therefore, in Experiment 2 we set up an emotional congruence situation to verify our hypothesis. We randomly recruited 88 friend pairs from one university and divided them into three groups to participate in the experiment, including control group, self-focused attention group , friend-focused attention group. The procedure is similar to Experiment 1. And the difference is that in Experiment 2, the regulators were asked to adjust their attention tendencies to manipulate the cognitive resources allocated to interpersonal emotion regulation, and both of experiencers and regulators were presented with same emotional events. The results revealed that only in negative emotions state, the self-focused attention group has worse interpersonal emotion regulation effect and lower strategy matching degree than those of the friend-focused group.
These suggest that: (1) In interpersonal interaction, the effect of regulating the negative emotions of others is better than that of regulating the positive emotions. (2) Emotional consistency effect exists in interpersonal emotion regulation. That is, the effect of interpersonal emotion regulation is better when both of experiencers and regulators are in the same emotional state. When the emotional states are inconsistent, the regulators preferentially regulates the negative emotions whoever in that emotion state. (3) Only when interpersonal regulating negative emotions occurs, the allocation of cognitive resources caused by attention focusing on friend can effectively improve the strategy selection and regulation effect.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-03-19
Abstract： In recent years, the debates between monism and pluralism are one of the most active theoretical disagreements in the field of moral psychology. Moral monism claims that all moral phenomena on the surface and moral structures behind them can be explained by one factor, and the representative theories are stages theory of moral development and dyadic morality theory, etc. Moral pluralism holds that morality can’t be explained by a single factor, whereas has many heterogeneous moral dimensions and cultural sensitivity. The representative theories are triadic moral discourse theory, relational model theory and moral foundations theory, etc. Moreover, moral foundations theory and dyadic morality theory are the typical representatives of the debates between monism and pluralism. The two theories have engaged in a long and inconclusive dialogue on the harm, purity, modular claims, and moral foundations of politics. Future studies should further explore the monism and pluralism of morality from three specific aspects so as to maintain the vitality of theory in the field of moral psychology.
Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-03-09
Abstract： The current research on the relationship between scarcity and generosity continues presenting contradictions. The theory of resource depletion suggests that scarcity of material resources limits the possibility of individuals engaging in generous behavior. An alternative hypothesis from the social context theory posits that individuals facing resource scarcity possess a more context-dependent cognitive style and are more reliant on others, thus being more attentive to others’ well-being and displaying greater generosity. To address this conflicting relationship, some studies have explored relevant discussions on the measurement standards of scarcity. However, a clear understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of scarcity on generous behaviors is still lacking. To better address the aforementioned issues, this study intends to approach this from the perspective of self-construction and investigate the role of face consciousness between the two. We argue that face consciousness plays a moderating role in the relationship between scarcity and generous behaviors. Specifically, individuals with low face consciousness experienced a significant negative effect of scarcity on generous behavior. Conversely, for individuals with high face consciousness, the impact of scarcity on generous behavior was not significant. Furthermore, material scarcity prompts generous behavior through a lack of face motivation.
Three studies (comprising five sub-studies) were conducted to validate the hypotheses mentioned above. Study 1 (Study 1a and Study 1b) explored the influence of material scarcity on generous relational behavior. By manipulating individuals’ perception of scarcity, Study 1a utilized common life scenarios like “sharing a bill” and Study 1b focused on the scenario of choosing a restaurant for a meal, investigating the relationship between face consciousness, scarcity, and generous behavior. Building on Study 1, Study 2 (Study 2a, Study 2b) incorporated scenarios involving rule-compliance or charitable generous behavior, measured individuals’ scarcity mindsets, and manipulated the perceived importance of face to further investigate the relationships among these factors. Study 3 employed a questionnaire-based measure to investigate the roles of gaining face and giving face in the tendency toward scarcity and generous behavior.
The research findings of Study1 (Study1a and Study1b) revealed that to those who experience material scarcity, individuals with a high face consciousness showed no significant differences in the amount spent on “sharing a bill” and the choice of restaurant for a meal compared to individuals in the affluent group. The results of Study 2a showed that, regarding the proportion allocated to others, scarcity and importance of face showed a significant interaction. Simple effect analysis results demonstrated that, for individuals for whom face was not important, the proportion allocated to others in the scarcity group was significantly lower than that in the affluent group. However, for individuals for whom the face was important, the proportion allocated to others in the scarcity group showed no significant difference compared to that in the affluent group. Similar research results were obtained in the charitable donation scenario in Study 2b. The results of Study 3 (n = 299) indicated that individuals facing material resource scarcity did not engage in generous behaviors to gain face for themselves. However, they exhibited generosity in upholding their own face.
The results demonstrate a significant main effect of scarcity on generous behavior, indicating that scarcity has a significant negative predictive effect on generous behavior. However, based on one’s perception of the situation, the relationship between scarcity and generous behavior also changes with an individual’s self-construction. Based on previous research, this study proposes, from a psychological perspective, that being generous despite limited resources is more of a way for individuals to maintain their levels of self-esteem and social identity through generous actions, a manifestation of an individual’s defense mechanism. By studying the scarcity mindset of relatively impoverished individuals and conducting research related to prosocial behavior, it is possible to promote social harmony and scientifically manage relative poverty.
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