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10 October 2026, Volume 33 Issue 10
    

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  • What Is Morality? — An Interpretation from Philosophy, Sociology and Psychology
    HE Peng, LU Jingyi
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 2-3.
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    This article offers a multi-dimensional interpretation of the core concept of "morality" from the perspectives of philosophy, sociology, and psychology. It reviews the connotations of morality under different disciplinary lenses and points out that moral judgment is not a purely rational process but is accompanied by emotional responses such as guilt, shame, anger, and empathy, which in turn influence subsequent moral judgments and serve as important driving forces for moral behavior. Through concrete examples, the article illustrates that guilt may prompt correction and compensation, shame may lead to defensiveness or blame-shifting, anger can motivate the pursuit of justice, and empathy encourages greater engagement in resource distribution and charitable giving. The article aims to help readers understand the psychological mechanisms of morality and its complex role in individual behavior and social interaction.
  • "I Know the Principles but Can't Put Them into Practice" — A Supervision Note for Novice Counselors: From "Following a Technical Checklist" to "Being Present Authentically"
    WANG Erdong
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 4-5.
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    This article traces a real supervision session, documenting the dilemma of a novice counselor who "knows the principles but cannot put them into practice" during his first independent case. When the client said "I know all the principles, but I really cannot do it," the supervisee was momentarily stuck and did not know how to respond. The article shows how the supervisor recognized the supervisee as a "dependent beginner" and, through a "five-step feedback process," guided him to shift from relying on technical checklists and eagerly seeking response templates to letting go of the burden of "being correct" and authentically being present with the client. The article emphasizes that true empathy is not about mastering techniques but about allowing oneself to stay with the other person amid uncertainty, gradually moving from an "imperfect present moment" toward "skill leading to the Way."
  • Overcoming the Barrier of "Attention" — Helping Children Out of the Predicament of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with Emotional Problems
    CAO Feng, TAO Dongfang
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 6-7.
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    This article focuses on the real predicament of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) accompanied by emotional problems. It first corrects the misunderstanding that the inattention and slow homework completion of ADHD children reflect "deliberate mischief or laziness," pointing out that the essence lies in "involuntary behavior" at the neurological level. Drawing on cases, the article analyzes the behavioral manifestations and causes of ADHD students and proposes comprehensive strategies from three aspects: medication, educational support, and psychological-behavioral intervention. These include a scientific understanding of the drug adaptation period, communicating with schools to create an accepting environment, and helping children vent emotions and improve social skills through individual counseling. The article emphasizes avoiding labeling children as "lazy" or "rebellious"; understanding, acceptance, and scientific help are the true beginning of change.
  • Let Books "Understand" People: Precision Intervention of Reading Profiling Technology on Primary and Secondary School Students' Social-Emotional Competence
    YANG Hongmin
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 8-9.
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    This article introduces a precision intervention approach that integrates reading behavior data with the cultivation of social-emotional competence. Against the background that educators need to attend to students' social-emotional development, it elaborates on how reading profiling technology extracts behavioral cues from students' daily reading preferences, content and frequency, thereby identifying their social-emotional development characteristics. Drawing on practical cases, the article shows how to recommend suitable books, design personalized reading activities, and guide emotional expression and empathic understanding through post-reading discussions based on profiling results. It argues that reading profiling is not only a tool for understanding students' reading habits but also an effective lever for schools to carry out mental health education and promote social-emotional competence, providing educators with a practical path to deeply integrate reading with holistic education.
  • From "Unremarkable Daily Life" to "Glimpses of Meaning" — Classroom Practice Exploration on Cultivating Sense of Meaning in Life for Sixth Graders
    ZHOU Yuhong
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 10-11.
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    This article focuses on the psychological state in which people gradually lose their sense of meaning amid busy and repetitive daily routines and feel "numb." It points out that when life is filled with routine tasks, people easily fall into indifference toward value, and this lack of meaning can affect their emotions and quality of life. From a psychological perspective, the article analyzes the mechanisms behind "unfeeling daily life" and proposes concrete ways to actively seek "glimmers of meaning" in ordinary life, including noticing overlooked small joys, establishing rituals, and reflecting on and re-endowing everyday behaviors with value. The article emphasizes that a sense of meaning does not reside only in grand goals; it can also arise from countless tiny moments of awareness and connection. Through an active shift in perspective and behavioral adjustment, people can rediscover inner fulfillment and a sense of direction in seemingly ordinary days.
  • AI Enters the Psychology Classroom: Opportunity or Challenge?
    ZHANG Xuelian
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 12-13.
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    This article explores the dual impact of artificial intelligence entering school mental health classrooms. It recognizes AI's potential in psychological education, such as providing personalized learning materials, monitoring students' emotional states in real time, and assisting teachers with data analysis, while also facing the problems it may bring, including impacts on teacher-student relationships, data privacy risks, and the hidden dangers of technological dependence. Drawing on frontline teaching practice, the article analyzes the boundaries and methods for reasonably applying AI in psychology classes, proposing that teachers should strike a balance between technological tools and emotional connection, letting AI serve rather than replace human education. The article argues that whether AI becomes an asset to the psychology classroom depends on how educators position the role of technology, and it reminds readers that while embracing new technology, the fundamental principle of "people-centered" psychological education must still be upheld.
  • Psychologically Empowering Language: An Empathic Education Narrative in Project-Based Learning in Junior Middle School English
    ZHAO Tingting
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 14-14.
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    This article explores how to achieve empathic education in project-based learning in junior middle school English from the perspective of "psychologically empowering language." It points out that English teaching should not be limited to knowledge transmission; the expressive and communicative functions of language can also promote students' emotional development and psychological growth. Drawing on teaching cases, the article shows how to design project tasks close to students' lives, create a safe and inclusive classroom atmosphere, and encourage students to express their true feelings and opinions in English, thereby cultivating empathy and self-identity during language learning. The article emphasizes that when teachers intentionally incorporate psychological care into English classrooms, students can gain the experience of being understood and respected while acquiring language competence, achieving dual growth in knowledge and emotion, and providing a feasible path for integrating subject teaching with psychological education.
  • The Application of "One-Stop" Student Communities in "Cultivating the Mind through Aesthetic Education" in Colleges and Universities
    MENG Jie
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 15-16.
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    This article explores the value and practical methods of applying "one-stop" student communities in colleges and universities to implement the concept of "cultivating the mind through aesthetic education." It points out that integrating aesthetic education into the construction of student communities helps promote college students' mental health subtly in daily life scenarios. The article introduces specific practices for carrying out aesthetic education activities through student communities, such as organizing art appreciation, creative workshops, and environmental beautification, allowing students to gain aesthetic pleasure and emotional nourishment through participation and experience. It emphasizes that the "one-stop" community is not only a service space but also an important carrier for psychological education. By bringing aesthetic education resources closer to students and integrating them into daily management, it can broaden the channels of mental health education and enhance the effectiveness of education. The article provides practical references for colleges to build an integrated "aesthetics + psychology" education system.
  • A Classroom Exploration of Adolescent Identity Construction in the AI Era
    LI Li
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 17-19.
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    This article focuses on the new situations facing adolescents' construction of self-identity in the AI era and how psychology classrooms can respond to these changes. It points out that in an environment of information explosion and technological dependence, adolescents are more likely to experience confusion in self-cognition and bewilderment in value choices, and their establishment of identity is more complex than before. Drawing on teaching practice in psychology classrooms, the article explores how to guide students to think about questions such as "Who am I," "Why do I exist," and "What is my relationship with society and technology" through theme discussions, value clarification, and career exploration activities, thereby gradually forming a stable and clear self-understanding. The article emphasizes that psychology classrooms should proactively respond to the psychological challenges brought by technological change, helping adolescents establish independent judgment and an internal value coordinate system amid diverse information, thus laying a psychological foundation for their healthy growth.
  • Can AI Help Students Learn Better?
    WANG Xiaowen
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 20-21.
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    This article explores the impact of artificial intelligence on learning outcomes from a combined psychological and educational perspective. It points out that the use of AI in learning has two sides: on one hand, it can provide immediate feedback, personalized learning paths, and abundant learning resources, helping to stimulate learning motivation and improve efficiency; on the other hand, over-reliance on AI may lead to mental laziness, a decline in autonomous learning ability, and attention distraction. Drawing on relevant research and teaching observations, the article analyzes the actual functions and limitations of AI in different learning stages and proposes that reasonable use of AI should be based on learners' cognitive rules and psychological characteristics. It argues that whether AI can truly help students learn better depends on whether it is positioned as an auxiliary tool or a substitute, and the key lies in how to make technology serve the cultivation of students' thinking ability and learning quality.
  • When a Loved One Passes Away, How Does a Family Stay "Alive"? — Observing Family Self-Healing through the Film The Coffin Painter
    JIANG Li
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 22-23.
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    This article focuses on the grief reactions and self-healing process of families after the loss of a close family member. It points out that losing a loved one is not only an individual sad experience but also deeply affects the dynamics and relationships of the whole family, and family grief is often suppressed due to a lack of expression. The article analyzes the manifestations of family grief, such as avoiding discussion, members remaining silent separately, and pressure from role readjustment, and proposes directions for helping families move through grief from a psychological perspective, including allowing the expression of sadness, rebuilding family communication, finding comfort in shared memories, and gradually adapting to a new life order. It emphasizes that grief is not an "abnormality" to be overcome quickly but a natural process to be understood and accepted, and the mutual support and openness of family members are an important force for the family to "survive" anew.
  • The "Circle" in Eastern Wisdom: A New Perspective on Mandala Psychological Healing
    WANG Yemei
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 24-24.
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    This article explores mandala as a psychological healing tool from the perspective of the image of the "circle" in Eastern culture. It points out that mandala originates from the Eastern meditative tradition, and its circular structure carries symbolic meanings of order, integration, and the self, which align with concepts of self-integration and emotional regulation in modern psychology. The article introduces the basic principles and operating methods of using mandala drawing for psychological healing, explaining how individuals use the structured circle to express inner emotions, sort out psychological conflicts, and rebuild spiritual order during the drawing process. Drawing on practical cases, it demonstrates the role of mandala in relieving anxiety and promoting self-awareness, emphasizing that this method rooted in Eastern wisdom provides a culturally compatible, intuitive, and easily operable supplementary path for psychological healing.
  • How Can Adolescents Get Out of the Motivation Predicament
    PEI Runjia, CHEN Guanghui
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 25-26.
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    This article focuses on the widespread problem of insufficient motivation and lack of drive among adolescents in study and life. It points out that motivation predicament is not simply "laziness" or "lack of effort" but is often related to factors such as loss of goal sense, low self-efficacy, excessive external pressure, and unmet internal needs. From a developmental psychology perspective, the article analyzes the characteristics and causes of adolescents' motivational changes and proposes ways to help them get out of the motivation predicament, including rebuilding reasonable self-expectations, breaking big goals into achievable small tasks, cultivating intrinsic interest and a sense of value, and creating a supportive family and school environment. The article emphasizes that restoring motivation requires patience and methods; educators should understand the real needs behind adolescents' motivation and help them regain the drive for active learning and growth through encouragement rather than coercion.
  • What Lies Behind Young People's Self-Deprecating Label of "Waste"?
    FU Shiqi, ZHANG Xiaoming
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 27-28.
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    This article explores the psychological motivations and social backgrounds behind the phenomenon of contemporary young people labeling themselves "waste" in self-deprecation. It points out that such self-deprecation is not simply negative self-abasement but is often a defensive way to relieve pressure, avoid the feeling of failure, and regulate self-evaluation, intertwined with real-life pressure, ideal-actual gap, social comparison, and confusion about self-worth. From a psychological perspective, the article analyzes the causes of the "waste" self-deprecation and notes that long-term use of such a label may bring risks of damaged self-identity and reduced initiative. The article proposes that understanding this phenomenon requires seeing both individuals' need for emotional catharsis and their underlying psychological difficulties, and advocates helping young people build a reasonable cognition of failure and rebuild a sense of self-worth in healthier ways, thereby maintaining genuine self-acceptance and the strength to move forward under pressure.
  • Strategies for Empowering Youth Emotional Health with AI
    LI Na, DENG Lina, LI Yuting, WANG Danyang
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 29-30.
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    This article explores how to use artificial intelligence technology to promote the emotional health of young people. It points out that young people bear considerable emotional pressure in academics, employment, and interpersonal relationships, while traditional psychological services have limitations in coverage and timeliness, for which AI technology provides new possibilities. The article analyzes multiple applications of AI in the field of emotional health, such as emotion recognition based on natural language processing, intelligent psychological assessment, emotional self-help intervention tools, and online companionship services, while also discussing issues such as data privacy, technological reliability, and insufficient humanization. It proposes combining AI technology with professional psychological support to build a "technology + humanities" emotional health service system, which can provide young people with more convenient and accessible emotional support. However, technological boundaries must be carefully managed during application to ensure services are both efficient and warm.
  • "Social Anxiety" or "Slow to Warm Up"? — Social Development of Introverted Children and Parental Misconceptions
    TAN Ying, ZHAO Chunxiao
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 31-32.
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    This article explores how to distinguish genuine social anxiety from a "slow to warm up" personality, helping people more accurately understand their social behavior. It points out that "social anxiety" is usually accompanied by persistent and intense anxiety, avoidance of social situations, and excessive worry about negative evaluation, which may cause significant disturbance in daily life; "slow to warm up," on the other hand, is more manifested as restraint and slow adaptation at first acquaintance but naturally relaxes as familiarity increases, without necessarily involving strong discomfort and functional impairment. The article distinguishes the two from perspectives such as behavioral characteristics, emotional experience, and adaptation methods, and proposes corresponding adjustment suggestions, including distinguishing socially anxious individuals who need professional help from those whose social restraint can be improved through practice. It emphasizes that whether one is "socially anxious" or "slow to warm up," one should develop social competence step by step on the basis of understanding and accepting one's own characteristics, rather than simply applying a negative label.
  • Learning Needs "Making Trouble": The Positive Role of Desirable Difficulties in Education
    WU Zhaogui, ZHANG Jinkun
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 33-34.
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    Based on the psychological concept of "desirable difficulties," this article explores the positive role of moderate learning difficulties in improving learning outcomes. It points out that in daily teaching, teachers and students often pursue smooth and easy learning, but cognitive psychology research shows that appropriately increasing learning difficulty—such as spaced review, varying practice contexts, and appropriately reducing prompts—can actually promote deeper processing of information and long-term memory. The article elaborates on the basic principles of "desirable difficulties," their applicable conditions, and their relationship with learning motivation, explaining that not all difficulties are beneficial; difficulty needs to be set within the range where individuals can reach it with a bit of effort to play a positive role. It proposes that educators should consciously design reasonable "difficulty" situations, allowing students to improve learning outcomes and problem-solving abilities through moderate challenges, thereby avoiding the weakening of learning quality caused by over-pursuing "ease."
  • "Procrastination" Is a Rhythm, Not a Defect
    SUN Jie
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 35-36.
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    This article focuses on the phenomenon of "procrastination" shown by children in life and study, and proposes a new perspective for understanding it. It points out that adults often regard children's slow movements and delayed actions as a "defect" or an attitude problem, but from a child development perspective, children's rhythm differs from that of adults, and behind their "procrastination" may lie reasons such as immature attention, tasks beyond their ability, a lack of time concept, or resistance to the task. Drawing on examples, the article analyzes the possible causes of "procrastination" and emphasizes that simple urging and blame often backfire. It proposes that adults should understand and respect children's inner rhythm, and help children gradually develop time management and self-planning awareness and ability through reasonably breaking down tasks, establishing clear rules, and allowing sufficient time, enabling children to grow in composure and respect rather than lose confidence amid urging and negation.
  • The Art of Chatting: Unlocking the Secrets of Effortless Communication
    JIANG Nan, LU Jingyi
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 37-38.
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    This article introduces how to improve chatting skills in daily interpersonal interactions to achieve more effortless and effective communication. It points out that many people lack social willingness not because of unwillingness but because they do not know how to "chat," feeling nervous and awkward in interpersonal interactions, and the root cause often lies in over-focusing on self-presentation while ignoring the other person's genuine responses. Drawing on psychological knowledge, the article proposes several specific techniques to improve the quality of chatting, such as guiding the conversation through open-ended questions, listening attentively and giving sincere responses, appropriately using empathic expression, and avoiding one-sided preaching or self-centeredness. It emphasizes that good chatting is not a pile of techniques but is built on genuine attention to and respect for others. Through intentional practice, people can reduce nervousness, enhance understanding, and build more natural and harmonious interpersonal relationships in daily communication.
  • Will You Switch the Track or Not? — The Trolley Problem and Human Dilemma in *The Year of Balance*
    PAN Jiajie, CHEN Wei
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 39-40.
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    This article explores how people make psychological choices when facing moral dilemmas, using the classic "throwing the switch" moral dilemma case. It points out that when one needs to weigh between different values and even sacrifice one of them, people fall into intense inner conflict, and the decision-making process is jointly influenced by multiple factors such as cognitive judgment, emotional reactions, moral intuition, and social norms. From a psychological perspective, the article analyzes people's different choice tendencies in similar situations and the psychological mechanisms behind them, such as the interplay between rational calculation and emotional engagement and the trade-off between utilitarianism and morality. It emphasizes that moral dilemmas often have no standard answer, and understanding the psychological processes behind choices helps people more rationally understand their own and others' judgments, enhancing decision-making ability and sense of responsibility in complex ethical situations.
  • Why Can't You Fall Asleep the More You Try? — The Psychological Paradox of Sleep
    LIN Xinyi, WANG Chao
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 41-42.
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    This article explores the psychological mechanisms behind the common phenomenon of "the more you try to sleep, the harder it is to fall asleep." It points out that sleep should be a natural process, but when people deliberately try to control it, they fall into difficulty falling asleep due to excessive attention and anxiety, which is known as the "psychological paradox" or "effort paradox" of sleep. The article analyzes the causes of this phenomenon, including excessive worry about insomnia, perfectionist pursuit of sleep, residual daytime stress, and poor sleep habits, and proposes corresponding improvement methods such as reducing deliberate control over falling asleep, adjusting cognition about insomnia, establishing a regular routine, and practicing relaxation training. It emphasizes that the key to alleviating sleep troubles lies in "letting go" rather than "forcing," allowing the body and brain to naturally enter a relaxed and resting state by reducing excessive attention and psychological burden.
  • Seeing Ancient Psychological Projection in Chinese Characters
    LIN Lian, KONG Danhua
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 43-43.
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    This article explores the psychological projection phenomena contained in Chinese characters as a carrier of traditional culture. It points out that Chinese characters are not only symbols for recording language; their structures, ways of character construction, and writing processes also carry ancient people's cognition and emotions about the world, reflecting primitive psychological projection—people projecting their inner feelings and imagination onto external things. Drawing on specific Chinese characters, the article analyzes the emotional expression contained in character construction, the perceptual experience behind pictographs, and the emotional flow of individuals during the writing process. It proposes that through observing and writing Chinese characters, people can enhance awareness of their own psychological states in cultural experiences, providing a unique perspective for understanding psychological expression in a local cultural context. The article emphasizes that re-examining Chinese characters is both a cultural root-seeking and possibly a way to know oneself.
  • Why Do People Defend Themselves Confidently While Shifting Blame? — A Psychological Explanation Based on Moral Disengagement
    BAI Hui
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 44-45.
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    This article explores the phenomenon of "passing the buck"—shifting responsibility to others when making mistakes or failing—and its psychological mechanisms. It points out that "passing the buck" is not simply a moral issue; it is often driven by self-defensive psychology—by attributing failure to external factors, individuals can protect self-esteem, maintain a positive self-image, and thus relieve guilt and anxiety. From the perspective of attribution theory, the article analyzes the causes of this phenomenon, including the need for self-protection, fear of negative evaluation, and pressure from social situations, and illustrates it with examples from life and the workplace. It proposes that understanding the psychological roots of "passing the buck" helps people view their own and others' attribution tendencies more rationally, and reminds individuals to take due responsibility while protecting self-esteem through honest self-reflection and reasonable attribution adjustment, thereby promoting healthy self-growth and interpersonal trust.
  • The Encounter of Developmental Science and Talentology
    DENG Ciping
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(10): 46-48.
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    This article explores the internal laws of talent growth from the perspective of developmental psychology, promoting a dialogue between developmental science and talentology. It points out that the formation of talent is not a simple release of innate ability but a result of the continuous interaction and shaping of cognitive, emotional, and social factors in specific developmental stages. The article analyzes how research findings in developmental psychology on cognitive development, motivation formation, self-identity, and social support provide a basis for understanding talent growth, and proposes that the cultivation of talent should respect the characteristics of individual developmental stages, providing appropriate support and challenges at the right time. It emphasizes that introducing the perspective of developmental science into talent research helps to understand the complexity of talent growth more comprehensively, correct the misconceptions of "talent-only determinism" or "forcing premature growth," and provides theoretical support and practical inspiration for scientific education and teaching students in accordance with their aptitude.
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