PsyCh journal最新文献

Social desirability affects several aspects of human life. However, the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying individual differences in social desirability remain unclear. This study explored the neuroanatomical basis of individual differences in social desirability using regional gray matter density (rGMD) as a brain indicator in a sample of 158 Chinese college students (79 males; M_age = 21.42, SD = 1.96). Next, we tested the serial effects of callous-unemotional traits (a personality inhibitor of social desirability) and the uncovered brain structural correlation on individual differences in social desirability. Our results indicated that rGMD in the right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is associated with individual differences in social desirability. Additionally, callous-unemotional traits were negatively associated with individual differences in social desirability through lower rGMD in the right dmPFC. This study provides the serial effects of personality inhibitor and neural correlate on individual differences in social desirability, which facilitates a more complete understanding of social desirability from the perspective of inhibition, and suggests a neuropsychological mechanism underlying lower-order personality traits.

Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) occurs when selective retrieval of certain information leads to the forgetting of other related information. Previous studies have shown that individuals with varying inhibition abilities can exhibit similar RIF magnitudes, a finding not entirely consistent with existing theories. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between item competitive strength and inhibition ability in modulating RIF. Items were categorized into high-, medium-, and low-competitive strength groups based on taxonomic frequency ratings. Participants' inhibition abilities were assessed using the Stroop task, and RIF was examined across these groups. The results revealed that at high-item competitive strength, only high-inhibition participants showed RIF. At medium item competitive strength, both groups demonstrated RIF, with no difference in magnitude. At low-item competitive strength, neither group exhibited RIF. These findings suggest that both item competitive strength and inhibition ability modulate RIF, supporting the inhibition theory of RIF.

An occasional presence of bivalent stimuli in a block of univalent trials can elicit a slowing of the response on all subsequent univalent trials. This type of modulation of cognitive control is termed the bivalency effect. To explore whether this modulation is task specific, this study used a triplet task switching paradigm, with three following tasks that were presented concussively: a shape color judgment (red vs. blue), a number parity judgment (odd vs. even), and a letter case judgment (lowercase vs. uppercase). The event-related potential (ERP) results showed that (1) the bivalency effect was reflected by the decreased amplitude of N2 and P3a over the frontal region for both the color and letter tasks; (2) the bivalency effect occurred earlier for the color task compared with that for the letter task; (3) for the number parity task, the bivalency effect was observed in the increased N1 and the decreased P2p over the parietal region. These findings indicate that the modulation of cognitive control is task-specific after the presentation of bivalent stimuli in task switching.

The postgraduate entrance examination frenzy is a widespread and intense phenomenon in China. As the number of students who failed the examination surged, the ensuing mental health problems became prominent. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an online ACT-based group resilience course, which incorporated the six core components of ACT and integrated elements of Chinese culture, in alleviating psychological distress among students who failed the examination. It also explored the mechanism by which the intervention affected changes in psychological distress. A total of 61 participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 31) and the control group (n = 30). They attended an 8-day group course, with 2-h sessions each day. The study outcomes were psychological distress, resilience, psychological flexibility (PF), and psychological inflexibility (PI). These outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Linear mixed models (LMMs) showed significant group × time interactions for all outcome variables, except for stress, which showed a marginally significant interaction. Post hoc analyses revealed significant improvements in depression, resilience, and PF at both post-intervention and at the 1-month follow-up. Additionally, significant reductions in anxiety and a marginally significant reduction in stress were observed at the 1-month follow-up. However, no significant reduction was found in PI. The multiple mediation model showed that the intervention improved psychological distress by increasing resilience and PF. These findings suggest that online resilience group intervention is generally effective in enhancing resilience and alleviating psychological distress and is acceptable to students who have failed the postgraduate entrance examination, as evidenced by high participant engagement and satisfaction.

During a public health emergency, such as the widespread transmission of COVID-19 following loosened COVID-19 policies in China, people's mental health is impacted along with their physical well-being. In order to investigate ways to mitigate these negative effects, this study examined how dispositional awe can predict mental health outcomes during such emergencies using a three-wave longitudinal design. Five hundred twenty seven participants (mean age = 21.18, SD = 3.39; 368 males) took part in the study within the first 2 months after the implementation of loosened COVID-19 policies, with one-month intervals between waves. Cross-lagged analysis revealed that dispositional awe in Wave 1 significantly predicted higher positive and lower negative interpretation bias in Wave 2, which in turn promoted positive mental functioning in Wave 3. Furthermore, negative interpretation bias in Wave 2 acted as a mediator for the predictive role of dispositional awe in Wave 1 on psychosomatic symptoms in Wave 3. These findings suggest that dispositional awe can act as a protective factor for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic by influencing people's interpretation orientation.

This study examined how voice attractiveness and group identity influence ultimatum decisions. Attractive voices only increased acceptance of 8:2 offers, suggesting a weak beauty premium effect. In-group proposers' unfair offers also had elevated acceptance, supporting Social Identity Theory.

This EEG and eye-tracking study investigated affective influences on cognitive preparation using a precued pro-/antisaccade task with emotional faces as cues. Negative information interfered with preparatory processes with high but not low executive function load.

To examine the effects of mindfulness on shame and the mechanisms mediated by cognitive flexibility and self-compassion in a Chinese adult population in daily life, we conducted two studies. Study 1 was a cross-sectional study using the Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Self-Conscious Affect-3, which were administered to 481 adults in Beijing and Chengdu. For Study 2, an 8-month follow-up study was conducted on 128 of the adults. The results of Study 1 showed that (1) the awareness of action and nonjudgment dimensions, and the total score of mindfulness were significantly correlated with shame; (2) cognitive flexibility and self-compassion could fully mediate the prediction of mindfulness on shame. The Study 2 showed that (1) mindfulness and shame were significantly negatively correlated in both phases of measurement; (2) controlling for T1 shame, T1 mindfulness was able to negatively predict T2 shame; controlling for T1 mindfulness, T1 shame was not able to predict T2 mindfulness. There is a longitudinal association between mindfulness and shame, and only mindfulness scores are predictive of the shame and not vice-versa; both cognitive flexibility and self-compassion can provide explanations for the prediction of shame by mindfulness. Enhancing levels of mindfulness can help alleviate individuals' shame levels.

Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy technique, this study identified lower brain network efficiency in children with anxiety and/or depression compared to healthy controls, with caregivers' evaluation of mood correlating with brain network efficiency.

This study explores how peers influence the moral decisions of Chinese adolescents (12- to 16-year-olds, M _age = 14.32, n = 84) and young adults (18- to 26-year-olds, M _age = 20.92, n = 99) in moral dilemmas. Participants were asked to make moral decisions individually and then collectively within groups of three to reach a consensus in Trolly dilemma and Footbridge dilemma. They were also required to evaluate the degree to which they felt their decisions were moral. Results showed that adolescents tended to choose "action" (pull the lever in Trolly dilemma, or push the man in Footbridge dilemma) more than adults, and evaluate their "no action" choice as more immoral than young adults across both individual and group settings. Adolescents showed consistent decision-making patterns regardless of whether decisions were made individually or collectively, while adults were more likely to choose "no action" in group decision-making. Our results suggest that adolescents are more utilitarian than young adults when making decisions in moral dilemmas, compared to young adults. Young adults are less likely to make utilitarian choices when they are in groups than when they make decisions individually.