Table of Content

15 September 2020, Volume 36 Issue 5

Previous Issue    Next Issue

The Space-time Metaphor of the Children and Teenagers

DU Xuan, LIN Jiayi, CHEN Lijing

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  513-519.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.01

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1083KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

The present study investigated the “left-past, right-future” space-time metaphor for the children and teenagers. This study recruited 100 elementary, junior and senior high school students (Grades 3,6,9 and 12) from 4 schools in Hui'an, Quanzhou, China. Participants categorized a series of phrases as referring to the past or to the future by pressing a left or a right key. Results showed that the “past-left, future-right” time-space match was responded faster and more accurate than the mismatch condition, supporting the psychological reality of the “left-past, right-future” space-time metaphor for the children and teenagers. In Summary, the children and teenagers from Grade 3 to Grade 12 have a space-time metaphor similar to the adults. This finding supports the Metaphoric-Structuring View.

The Influence of Mortality Salience on Self-name Attention Blink Sparing Effect

SHEN Yang, YUAN Wenying, ZHAO Xiaolin, JIANG Ke, PENG Maoying, CHEN Yu, YANG Juan

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  520-527.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.02

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1628KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Terror management theory has suggested that increased attention on self may therefor increase individual's concern with their own death. In order to cope with the death anxiety, people will tend to avoid self-awareness. Recent researches have repeatedly shown that reminders of mortality impaired self-referential processing and self-face processing. As a kind of symbolized self, self-name is special in emotional value and psychological meaning. The current work investigated whether reminders of mortality motivated avoidance of self-name processing. In the experiment, 58 college students were randomly assigned to one of the three priming conditions (priming: mortality salience priming vs. negative priming vs. neutral priming). participants in the mortality salience condition wrote responses to two open ended questions:‘Please briefly describe the emotions that the thought of your own death arouses in you’, and ‘Jot down, as specifically as you can, what you think will happen to you as you physically die and once you are physically dead. In the neutral condition participants responded to parallel questions focused on move: ‘Please briefly describe the emotions that the thought of your move arouses in you’, and ‘Jot down, as specifically as you can, what you think will happen to you as you physically move and once you are physically move, and in the negative condition participants focused on toothache:‘Please briefly describe the emotions that the thought of your own toothache arouses in you’, and ‘Jot down, as specifically as you can, what you think will happen to you as you physically toothache and once you are physically toothache.. After that, they were asked to perform 40 calculations. In rapid series of visual presentation (RSVP) task, each trial consisted of a first target (T1, left arrow or right arrow) and a second target (T2, a celebrity's name or a friend's name or one's own name or black) embedded of 20 common nouns. Each subject was instructed to press the “F” key (T1: left; T2: male),“J” key (T1: right; T2: female) and “L” key if T2 was black. The ERPs results suggested that The P300 (380~470ms) of self-name in mortality salience priming were lower than the P300 of self-name in negative priming and neutral priming, and there was no significant difference of friend-name or famous-name among three different priming. The P300 of self-name were higher than P300 of friend-name and famous-name, and the P300 of friend-name was higher than the P300 of famous-name. Our findings suggest that relative to the negative affect priming and neutral priming, reminders of mortality priming significantly decreased the amplitudes of P300 in response to self-name, meanwhile friend-name and famous-name were not been affected. In sum, these results suggested that reminders of mortality reduced the attention source of self-name processing. The finding of the present study have enhanced our understanding of TMT, suggesting a direct role of shutting down self-awareness, as a means of coping with mortality concerns.

Cognitive Processing Preferences of Different Types of Narcissists for Self-related Information

HOU Yongqing, HOU Wanying, ZHOU Aibao

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  528-537.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.03

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1053KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Using people names and adjectives words as materials, Narcissism Personality Scale was used to assess the level of overt narcissists and overt narcissists; Visual search task and memory test task were used to examine the attention and memory of individuals to relevant information, and to explore the cognitive processing preferences of different types of narcissists to self-related information. The results showed that high-level narcissists had more cognitive processing preferences than low-level narcissists; high-level overt narcissists had more memory preferences for positive words than low-level narcissists; high-level covert narcissists had more memory preferences for negative words than low-level covert narcissists. The participates had a higher preference for cognitive processing of information closely related to themselves, and the advantage of their own information was more obvious. Highly overt narcissists had a preference for cognitive processing of positive information related to themselves and familiar people than low overt narcissists. Highly covert narcissists have cognitive processing preferences only for their own negative information compared with low covert narcissists. The results show that different types of narcissists have different cognitive processing preferences for self-related information, and different types of narcissism have an impact on the cognitive processing process and results of self-related information.

Extroversion and Aggressive Behavior in Early Childhood: Moderating Effects of Self-control and Maternal Warmth

LIU Xiaoshi, LIU Shihong, MO Bibo, LI Dan, FU Rui

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  538-544.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.04

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1160KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

The present study aimed to explore the moderating roles of self-control and maternal warmth in predicting the association between extroversion and aggression among preschoolers.A sample of 237 parents and teachers of preschoolers were requested to participate in survey data collection on child temperament and child-rearing practices and aggressive behaviors. The results indicated that girls displayed a higher level of self-control than boys whereas boys exhibited more extroversion and aggression, and mothers showed more warmth toward girls in parenting practices. Child extroversion was positively associated with overt aggression while child self-control and maternal warmth moderated this association. Specifically, the magnitude of the association was weaker for those children with higher self-control and higher maternal warmth. These results indicate the roles of child self-control and maternal warmth in child-rearing as they prevent extroversive children from being overtly aggressive.

Differential influence of Television Violence on Preschool Children's Social Behavior——The Debate between the “the General Aggressive Model” and “Catalyst Model” Theory

LI Qianqian, YAO Lining, LIANG Jinjun, XING Shufen

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  545-554.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.05

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1148KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

154 preschoolers(M=4.11, SD=0.31)and their mothers participated in this study. Mothers reported their children's surgency, problem behavior, prosocial behavior and the exposure of television programs in the last three months. Results indicated that: (1) children's temperamental surgency moderated the relationship between the frequency and cruelty of television aggression and children's problem behavior, that was the children with high level of surgency were susceptible to frequency of television violence and showed significantly more problem behavior when exposed to the high frequency of television aggression, and less problem behavior when exposed to low frequency of television aggression than those children with low level of surgency, these results supported the differential susceptibility model; (2) in the prediction of children's prosocial behavior, there was no significant interaction between frequency and cruelty of television violence and children's temperamental surgency, while the children's temperamental surgency could significantly predict the children's prosocial behavior, children with high level of temperamental surgency would perform more prosocial behavior compared to those with low level of surgency.

The Development of Peer Circle in Junior High School Students and its Influence on Cooperative Tendency, Expectation, and Behavior

ZHOU Yu, WU Qin, HAN Xianguo, CUI Jialei, ZHAI Mengzhen, ZOU Hehui, HU Songling, CUI Liying

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  555-562.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.06

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (887KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

During socialization, the peer circle not only determines the range and quality of children's and adolescents' interactions, but also affects their psychological development and social adaptation. In this study, 768 students from a junior high school in Suzhou, China, were followed for one year. The Social Cognitive Map (SCM), the Cooperative Tendency Rating Scale, and the Experimental Paradigm of Public Goods Dilemma were used to investigate peer characteristics, cooperative tendency, expectation, and behavior. In addition, we used two-level hierarchical linear modeling to explore the influence of peer cooperation levels on the individual's cooperation levels. The results were as follows: (1) The number of female circles was highest, but their sizes were the smallest. The size of mixed-gender circles was highest, but their number was lowest. The number of cross-regional circles was highest, but their sizes were the smallest. (2) Female circles were most stable, while mixed circles were most unstable. (3) The cooperative expectation and behavior of individuals in mixed-gender circles were more likely to improve with an increase in cooperative expectation. However, the cooperation expectation of individuals in single-gender circles was more likely to increase with an improvement in cooperative behavior. Conclusion: Junior high school peers were homogenous in gender; peer circles among female were multiple and stable. The level of cooperation tendency, expectation, and behavior of single-sex and mixed-sex peers in the first year has different effects on the level of individual cooperation in the second year. There are differences in the individual impact patterns of gender circles.

The Relation between Having or Not Having the Second Child and the Parenting Sense of Competence: The Moderating Effect of Parental Attachment in the First Child

LI Tiantian, WANG Juanjuan, GU Jiyou, XU Hewen

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  563-568.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.07

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (748KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation between having or not having the second child and the parenting sense of competence. We also investigated the moderating effect of parental attachment in the first child to the above relation. We selected 650 primary and middle school students as samples and used the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale and parent-child attachment security questionnaire. Students were asked to report their parent-child attachment on Kerns Security Scale-C. Parents were asked to report parenting sense of competence on Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. The study found that: (1) The parenting sense of competence of parents in the two-child family is higher than that of the parents of the single child family;(2) The mother-child attachment of the first child can moderate the relation between having or not having second child and the parenting sense of competence: For the group that scores high in the mother-child attachment on Kerns Security Scale-C, having or not having second child could not predict the parenting sense of competence difference. For the group that scores low in the mother-child attachment on Kerns Security Scale-C, having or not having second child significantly affects the parenting sense of competence;(3) The moderating effect of father-son attachment is insignificant.

Factors Influencing College Students' Online Donation Behavior: Examining the Impact of the Donation Recipients Characteristics

QIU Juan, JIANG Daitai, DUAN Yajie, YAO Ju, FAN Chunyan, LIU Wei

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  569-575.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.08

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1139KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Researchers tend to concentrate more on donations in the real world and the impact of donors' characteristics on donations. However, few studies have examined willingness to make online donations and the influence of donation recipients' characteristics on such donations. The current study attempted to compare donation willingness in online and real contexts. The effect of donation recipients' identity and help-seeking information characteristics on online donation was also studied. Findings revealed that the participants were more likely to donate online than in the actual environment, and they tended to do so in larger amounts. Further, they were more likely to help acquaintances who posted help-seeking information online than to strangers who did the same. Finally, compared with helping college students who posted emotional information, the student donors were more willing to spend more money to help those who posted rational information. College students' high level of online social support and excellent network information processing ability may have affected these results.

The Association between Interpersonal Competence and Meaning in Life: Roles of Loneliness and Grade

ZHANG Rongwei, KE Shaojing, LIAN Rong, LI Dan

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  576-583.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.09

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1003KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Based on the perspectives of existential psychology, a moderated mediation model was examined in the present study, in which loneliness mediated the relation between interpersonal competence and meaning in life, and the meditating effect was moderated by grade. We surveyed 1476 college students (freshmen and sophomores) from three colleges at Fujian province using the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and the Illinois Loneliness Questionnaire. The results indicated that: (1) There were gender differences on interpersonal competence and loneliness. Boys gained significant higher scores of interpersonal competence and lower scores in loneliness than girls; (2) Interpersonal competence was significantly and negatively related to loneliness, but significantly and positively related to presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life. However, loneliness was significantly and negatively related to presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life; (3) Loneliness served as a mediator in the relation between interpersonal competence and presence of meaning in life. Also the mediating effect of loneliness in the relation was moderated by grade. As compared to sophomores, larger mediating effect size of loneliness was found in the freshmen. Results were discussed in terms of the meaning and implications of the interpersonal competence promoting presence of meaning in life in the context of the psychological education of adjustment for freshmen.

Relationship between Peer Rejection and Cyberbullying: The Mediating Role of Anger and the Moderating Role of Perceived Anonymity

CHU Xiaowei, ZHOU Zongkui, FAN Cuiying

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  584-593.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.10

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1130KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Cyberbullying has become a new form of bullying with the rapid development of Internet and mobile communication tools. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between peer rejection and cyberbullying, as well as the mediation effect of anger and the moderation effect of perceived anonymity in this relation. Seven hundred and three Chinese junior high school students from Wuhan, a city in central China, completed a questionnaire measuring the research variables in this study. Results indicated that: (1) after controlling for participants' gender, age and time spent online per day, peer rejection positively and significantly predicted cyberbullying; (2) anger partially mediated the relationship between peer rejection and cyberbullying; and (3) the direct effect of peer rejection on cyberbullying and the mediation effect of anger were moderated by perceived anonymity, with these effects being much stronger among adolescents high on perceived anonymity. The present findings support the moderated mediation model underlying the relationship between peer rejection and cyberbullying. This also has significant implications for formulating prevention and intervention measures on cyberbullying among adolescents.

The Effect of Campus Exclusion on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems: Mediating Role of Peer Relationship and Core Self-evaluation

WANG Kai, ZHANG Ye

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  594-604.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.11

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1474KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Combining the conservation of resources theory, the study explored the effect of campus exclusion on junior school students' internalizing and externalizing problems, and further investigated the mediating roles of peer relationship(condition resources) and core self-evaluation(personal resources). The survey was conducted by 540 junior school students in two middle schools in Liaoning province with using the tools of reality exclusion scale, peer relationship scale, core self-evaluation scale, anxiety and depression scale and conduct problem tendency inventory. The results showed that: (1) Campus exclusion had a positive predictive effect on both internalizing/externalizing problems among junior school students. (2) Peer relationship and core self-evaluation played a complete mediating role between campus exclusion and internalizing problems, and a partial mediating role between campus exclusion and externalizing problems, and the mediation effects contained the three paths: one was the mediating role of peer relationship; the second was the mediating role of core self-evaluation; the third was the chain-mediated role of both peer relationship and core self-evaluation.

The Effects of Peer Victimization on Left-behind Adolescents' Subjective Well-being: The Roles of Self-esteem and Social Support

CHEN ZiXun, WANG Hui, FENG Yingxue, LIU Xia

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  605-614.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.12

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1679KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of victimization on left-behind adolescents' subjective well-being and the role of self-esteem, teacher support and friend support. A total sample of 487 left-behind adolescents was recruited from Guizhou province through the longitudinal design of two follow-up surveys with an interval of 6 months. The results showed that: (1) Peer victimization not only significantly and negatively predicted the subjective well-being of left-behind teenagers after half a year, but also indirectly predicted subjective well-being through the mediating role of self-esteem; (2) Friend support significantly moderated the relationship between peer victimization and the subjective well-being of left-behind adolescents: higher levels of peer victimization negatively predicted subjective well-being only among those who reported less friend support; (3) Teacher support significantly moderated the relationship between peer victimization and the subjective well-being of left-behind girls: more teacher support alleviated the negative influence of peer victimization on subjective well-being. Also, teacher support could moderate the relationship between peer victimization and self-esteem of left-behind girls: more teacher support exacerbated the negative effect of peer victimization on self-esteem.

The Relationship between Peer Victimization and Aggression in Stay-behind Junior Secondary School Students: A Chain Multiple Mediation Model

DONG Jimei, ZHOU Chen, HOU Yanan, ZHAO Lei, WEI Shuhua

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  615-623.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.13

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1258KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

In order to explore the internal mechanism of the relationship between peer victimization and aggression of stay-behind junior secondary school students, this study constructed a chain multiple mediation model, focusing on the multiple mediation effects of discrimination perception, loneliness and resilience between peer victimization and aggression. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 519 stay-behind junior secondary school students. The results showed that: (1) the incidence of peer victimization among stay-behind junior secondary school students was 96.3%, which was universal; (2) there were significant correlations between peer victimization, discrimination perception, loneliness, resilience and aggression among stay-behind junior secondary school students; (3) discrimination perception, loneliness and resilience had chain multiple mediating effects in the relationship between peer victimization and aggression; (4) the mechanism of the relationship between peer victimization and aggression was stable, however, there were significant differences in whether or not to stay and whether or not one parent or two parents went out to stay in junior middle school students. The results further reveal the relationship between peer victimization and aggression, which can provide reference for educational strategies of unhealthy peer relationship of stay-behind junior secondary school students.

Evolution or Degeneration: The Cultural Generality and Variation of Children's Over-imitation

WANG Yiyi, SU Yanjie

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  624-632.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.14

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (829KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Sometimes children imitate actions that are causally irrelevant to the goal, which is called over-imitation. This article reviewed evidence of the generality and variation of children's over-imitation under different cultures and discussed the possible underlying mechanism of over-imitation. Over-imitation was found on children from different cultures, which suggested that it might be the general product of human cumulative civilization. However, the tendency of children's over-imitation under different cultures varied a lot. These variation might be attributed to the living environment, pedagogical learning and stress on social norms of different cultures. Future studies can explore more about the specific role of cultural factors in over-imitation and compare the developmental process of over-imitation under different cultures. This can shed some light on the role of over-imitation in the development of human civilization.

Children's Racial/Ethnic Essentialism and its Contributing Factors

LI Zhanxing, NI Xiaoli, NIU Gengfeng, ZHU Liqi

Psychological Development and Education. 2020, 36(5):  633-640.  doi:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.15

Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (903KB) ( )   Save

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Psychological essentialism regards category members as determined by the common essence, which corresponds to some apparently immutable properties. Among them, racial/ethnic essentialism is a kind of psychological essentialism, which is of great significance to understand children's cognition of race/ethnicity. Individuals who hold racial/ethnic essentialism regard race/ethnicity as heritably unchanged, having strong inductive potential, and label of race/ethnicity being objective. However, children's racial/ethnic essentialism basing on different features have different developmental trajectory. Use of generic language, social cultural contexts and the group status all will impact children's belief of racial/ethnic essentialism, which suggests we may weaken children's belief of racial/ethnic essentialism by decreasing usage of generic language and promoting national integration. To compare the developmental trajectory between children's racial/ethnic essentialism and natural essentialism may help us understand the cross-domain consistency in category learning for children. Some intervention studies may be needed to ensure the development of racial/ethnic essentialism is appropriate.