Journal of Social Psychology最新文献

Young adults comprise the group with the highest prevalence of both loneliness and alcohol use, underscoring the importance of developing a deeper insight into this population. Guided by the need to belong and the motivational model of alcohol use, this research evaluates whether students experience alcohol-related problems (e.g. hangovers, missing school or work) in response to a perceived lack of social connection. Specifically, we explore how feelings of loneliness are related to alcohol-related consequences, and whether this is mediated by coping, social, enhancement, and conformity drinking motives over 12 months in a sample of 591 heavy-drinking college students. Results from generalized linear mixed models revealed that, on average and controlling for the amount of alcohol consumed, students who were higher in loneliness reported more alcohol-related consequences (between-person effects) than those who were less lonely. This association was mediated by coping and social drinking motives, suggesting alcohol may have been used both to manage negative affect related to loneliness and to bolster interpersonal connections. Further, alcohol-related consequences were higher when students reported feeling lonelier than their typical levels (within-person effects), an association mediated by coping, social, and conformity motives. These results demonstrate how some students use alcohol as a way to internally cope with or externally manage a potentially thwarted need to belong.

Income is a sensitive yet common topic in conversations. When asked about their income in daily scenarios, do people tend to understate it, overstate it, or state the truth? Across five main experiments and two supplementary studies (N = 939), we consistently observed an income understatement effect across 15 conversational contexts involving 11 types of interpersonal relationships. The effect emerged both when participants responded to hypothetical income scenarios (Study 1 and Supplementary Studies 1-2) and when they discussed their actual self-reported income (Study 2). Guided by the theory of Sensitivity about Being the Target of a Threatening Upward Comparison (STTUC), we identified concerns about others' envy and potential borrowing requests as key psychological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon (Studies 3-4), particularly under downward social comparison conditions (Study 5).

The COVID-19 pandemic's socioeconomic disruptions may have reshaped perspectives on the pursuit of material wealth (commonly referred to as materialistic values) in emerging adults, a developmental period sensitive to environmental influences. We examined materialism changes among individuals aged 17 to 23 using longitudinal data. Study 1 compared pre-pandemic (late 2019) and post-onset (late 2020) periods. Study 2 tracked changes during the pandemic (2022-2023). We also probed the moderating effect of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) on changes in materialism, considering the uncertain nature of the pandemic. Both studies revealed rising materialism, suggesting factors beyond the pandemic contributed to this trend. Crucially, longitudinal evidence indicated that IU moderated changes in materialism during the initial outbreak, but this effect was not observed in later stages of the pandemic. These findings highlight how uncertain situations interact with personality traits to shape value systems during global crises.

This study examined the relationship between paranormal beliefs and right-wing ideology in a German quota sample (N = 1,139). We also explored whether individual differences in intuitive versus analytical cognitive styles explain these relationships. Results indicated that higher scores on right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and social dominance orientation (SDO), but not right-wing identity, were positively associated with paranormal beliefs. However, both right-wing ideology and intuitive versus analytical thinking independently contributed to paranormal belief endorsement. The results suggest that right-wing ideology plays an important role in understanding paranormal beliefs. While cognitive styles are also relevant, they do not explain the affinity of right-wing individuals for paranormal phenomena.

This study aimed to develop the Social Media Self-Presentation Discrepancy Scale (SMSDS) to assess individuals' tendencies to present themselves differently from their real selves in social media environments. The theoretical framework of the study was grounded in Goffman's theory of self-presentation, Higgins' self-discrepancy theory, and Leary's impression management model. Through exploratory (n = 243) and confirmatory (n = 409) factor analyses, the scale's structural integrity was established, revealing a three-factor structure comprising Reality Distortion and Exaggeration, Idealized Self-Presentation, and Strategic Impression Management. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency, and its construct validity and measurement invariance were supported through various statistical analyses. The SMSDS offers a functional assessment tool for evaluating psychological aspects of social media use, identifying risky digital behaviors among young users, and designing intervention programs targeting digital self-presentation. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional nature of self-presentation strategies on social media at both theoretical and applied levels.

This is the first cross-cultural study of the contribution of romantic hostile attribution bias to relationship satisfaction that takes into account the role of attachment orientation. In two studies conducted 1 year apart, data were collected in three countries during COVID (Western culture country-the United Kingdom, Eastern culture country-China, geographically distinct country-New Zealand). Both studies indicated that hostile attribution bias (a) was positively related to attachment anxiety/avoidance cross-culturally, (b) played a mediating role between attachment anxiety/avoidance and relationship satisfaction, (c) with the strength of effects varying by country. The test of alternative models strengthens the robustness of the current model. In Study 2, paranoid thoughts (potential risk factor) and partner responsiveness (potential protective factor) were included in the model as potential moderators but failed to show significant moderating effects. We tested measurement invariance to support valid comparisons of the identified relationships across the three countries. By understanding these relationships, researchers and clinicians can better target long-lasting changes in relational attributions.

Although honesty is vital for trust and stability, individuals in romantic relationships may sometimes favor deception over harsh truths. This study examines the relationship between relationship satisfaction, resilience, and the preference for hearing prosocial lies from a romantic partner. We hypothesized that prosocial lies may be positively linked to relationship satisfaction, especially for less resilient individuals who rely on positive feedback to manage stress. First, we piloted scenarios depicting prosocial and egoistic lies in romantic relationships. Next, individuals (N = 672) chose whether they preferred their partner to lie or tell the truth. Results showed that lower relationship satisfaction was associated with a greater preference for hearing prosocial lies. This association was mediated by perceiving truth as harmful at mean and high levels of emotional resilience, indicating that prosocial lies are less desired in satisfying relationships but preferred in strained ones.

Some researchers suggest that fear can motivate climate protection measures by increasing risk perception. Others argue that fear-based messages can lead to avoidance or denial, making positive messages such as appeals to hope a more effective strategy. This study aimed to investigate whether textual appeals to fear are more effective than appeals to hope or neutral stimuli in increasing climate change risk perceptions and whether there is a difference between appeals to hope and neutral messages. This experimental study involved 233 university students (48.5% women) aged 18 to 33. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (fear, hope, and neutral), after which their risk perceptions of climate change were measured. A one-way ANOVA showed that there were no significant differences in risk perception between the three groups, suggesting that neither fear nor hope appeals were more effective than neutral stimuli in increasing risk perception of climate change.

Body dissatisfaction is a widespread concern linked to negative psychological outcomes. While much research has focused on dissatisfaction with weight and muscularity, dissatisfaction with height - an unchangeable trait - remains underexplored. We examined whether social media engagement and related cognitive factors predict height dissatisfaction. A sample of 332 Australian adults (72.89% female; M_age = 24.42) completed measures assessing height dissatisfaction, social media use, awareness of appearance-related social media content, internalization of appearance ideals, and sociocultural pressures.We found that shorter height, greater awareness of appearance-related content, stronger internalization of ideals, and higher sociocultural pressure were each associated with increased height dissatisfaction. Additionally, sociocultural pressure (β= .28, p< .001) and social media awareness (β  = .15, p = .012) were unique predictors of height dissatisfaction. Last, an exploratory analysis of sex differences indicated that the link between social media awareness and height dissatisfaction was stronger among males. Findings highlight the role of sociocultural and digital influences in height-related body image concerns.

Do students perceive mindset beliefs communicated by their colleges, and if so, how are they reflected in students' psychological and academic outcomes? This research explores how students' important outcomes are linked to perceived institutional mindset: students' perceptions of the degree to which their college views ability as immutable and unchangeable (an institutional fixed mindset) or malleable and expandable (an institutional growth mindset). With a diverse sample of first-year students (N > 10,000) at 22 U.S. colleges, we hypothesized, and found, that perceiving more of an institutional growth (vs. fixed) mindset is associated with greater belonging and academic self-confidence, better health and well-being, higher grades, and more credits taken and earned. Moreover, perceived institutional growth mindset correlates with lower stereotype threat, especially among underrepresented minority and first-generation college students. Given these relationships with important student outcomes, institutional mindset may be an important contextual factor for understanding students' experiences.