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  • Zhang Nina
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 24-25.

    This article explores a widespread yet little-known psychological phenomenon called "cute aggression," which refers to the psychological state where people experience urges to pinch, bite, or squeeze when encountering extremely cute babies, small animals, or adorable objects. The article analyzes the causes of this phenomenon from two perspectives: cognitive psychology and evolutionary psychology. At the cognitive level, this is a self-protective mechanism of the brain when facing excessive pleasant emotions, using mild aggression to balance emotional overload; from an evolutionary perspective, this may be survival wisdom retained by human ancestors to ensure sufficient attention to offspring. The article emphasizes that cute aggression is completely different from genuine aggressive behavior, as it stems from positive emotions rather than negative ones and represents a special form of emotional expression. Regarding how to properly handle this psychological phenomenon, the article suggests that people should first accept this normal contradictory emotion, then transform the impulse into gentle interactive behaviors, understand and guide children's similar behaviors in parenting, and ultimately learn to wisely manage various intense emotions.

  • Bian Qiang, Yu Muhan, Zhou Tianyu, Liu Hailun
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 21-22.

    This article delves into the psychological mechanisms behind the globally popular gacha games, focusing on how the sunk cost effect influences player behavior. The article points out that gacha games attract players through three key elements: random rewards, card scarcity, and social recognition needs, with the variable ratio reinforcement principle creating strong player dependence on uncertain rewards. When players invest significant time and money to obtain desired cards but fail to achieve their goals, they often continue to increase their investment due to consideration of prior costs, falling into a state of "getting carried away" and irrational spending cycles. The article pays particular attention to the negative impacts of gacha games on adolescents, including distorted consumption concepts, encroachment on study time, and psychological problems. Addressing these issues, the article proposes coping strategies from three levels: family education, school guidance, and personal rational development, emphasizing the need to improve awareness of the sunk cost effect and cultivate rational decision-making abilities to avoid falling into irrational behavioral traps while enjoying gaming pleasure.

  • Pei Runjia, Chen Guanghui
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 44-45.

    This article explores the psychological phenomenon of post-traumatic growth from the perspective of positive psychology, explaining why some people are able to achieve positive psychological transformation after experiencing major trauma. Based on Tedeschi and Calhoun's post-traumatic growth theory, the article analyzes the mechanisms underlying post-traumatic growth: individuals can achieve psychological reconstruction through psychological processes such as emotional regulation, cognitive processing, and ruminative thinking, gradually transitioning from initial intrusive rumination to reflective rumination with the help of social support. The article points out that post-traumatic growth is mainly manifested in enhanced personal strength, discovery of new life possibilities, elevation of life philosophy, and improvement of interpersonal relationships. It also emphasizes that post-traumatic growth does not mean that the negative effects of trauma will completely disappear, nor can it be used as a reason to glorify suffering. The article concludes by providing practical suggestions for promoting post-traumatic growth, including courageously expressing emotions, developing problem-solving abilities, conducting cognitive restructuring training, and some life tips, offering readers scientific guidance for psychological recovery.

  • Zhao Chunxiao, Ji Fei
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 42-43.

    This article uses the 1.08 million yuan auction price of a mint-colored Labubu blind box figurine in 2025 as a starting point to deeply analyze the psychological mechanisms behind blind box consumption. The article points out that blind boxes are addictive mainly due to four psychological factors: the dopamine mechanism triggered by uncertainty creates a brain sensation similar to "winning the lottery"; scarcity marketing exploits humans' tendency to overvalue rare items; social currency needs drive people to gain group recognition and social status through consumption; and the dual satisfaction of collecting compulsion and emotional value provides consumers with a sense of achievement and emotional comfort. In response to the risks of excessive consumption that blind box purchasing may bring, the article proposes suggestions for rational consumption, including setting consumption budgets, cultivating rational consumption awareness, finding alternative ways of satisfaction, and establishing healthy values. The article emphasizes that true wisdom lies in learning to make rational choices after understanding these psychological mechanisms, enjoying the pleasure of consumption while avoiding the trap of excessive consumption, and establishing a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Zheng Siqi, Zhang Yiming
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 14-15.

    This article explores the psychological dilemmas faced by primary and secondary school teachers in the age of artificial intelligence and corresponding coping strategies. The article points out that the rapid development of AI technology has brought three major psychological challenges to teachers: first, technology anxiety caused by the mismatch between AI iteration speed and teachers' adaptation speed, where teachers face a continuous "passive learning" state and develop feelings of inadequacy and frustration; second, professional anxiety triggered by AI's rich functions, where teachers worry about being replaced by technology, experiencing job insecurity and self-efficacy crisis; third, the high usage of AI may weaken the emotional connection between teachers and students, causing teachers to feel emotionally alienated and lose their sense of professional meaning. In response to these dilemmas, the article proposes three coping strategies from a psychological perspective: combining positive psychology to rebuild teachers' professional confidence and sense of value, helping teachers transform from "knowledge transmitters" to "learning facilitators" and "emotional supporters"; applying self-determination theory to enhance teachers' technological adaptation capabilities by meeting their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness through flexible learning opportunities and mentorship systems; and based on social support theory, strengthening teachers' emotional support by establishing organizational support and teacher mutual assistance networks, helping teachers maintain positive attitudes and efficient work performance during technological transformation.

  • She Yunfeng
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(8): 28-29.
    This article explores the phenomenon of "Chinese Dream Core" and its impact on Generation Z, analyzing the psychological needs behind this nostalgia wave. It begins by explaining the concept of "Chinese Dream Core," emphasizing how it evokes beautiful memories of the past through surrealist aesthetics and liminal spaces. The article then discusses how nostalgic emotions help Generation Z seek psychological comfort when facing real-world pressures, enhancing self-continuity and meaning in life. Additionally, it highlights the importance of collective memory and identity recognition among Generation Z in this phenomenon, emphasizing the role of social media in promoting group identity and emotional support. Finally, the article reminds readers of the dual nature of nostalgic emotions, urging participants to maintain moderation in nostalgia for better self-healing and psychological balance.
  • Han Zikang
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 39-40.

    This article explores the challenges and opportunities facing human cognitive abilities in the age of artificial intelligence. Starting with an incident where a professor discovered a student using AI to write assignments, the article analyzes the potential risks of cognitive deterioration when AI becomes an "external brain." The author first reviews the history of human tool use, pointing out that from stone tools to intelligent assistants, each technological innovation has raised concerns about ability degradation, but history has proven that new tools actually promote human cognitive advancement. The article focuses on analyzing real challenges in AI usage, including declining thinking abilities due to over-dependence, cognitive biases brought by "knowledge illusion," and deterioration of social skills. In response to these issues, the article proposes coping strategies: clarifying AI's tool attributes and adhering to the principle of "think first, then verify"; educational systems need to construct new capability development frameworks and strengthen basic thinking training; society should maintain spaces for genuine human interaction. The article emphasizes that the key lies in maintaining human dominance in decision-making and ensuring that technology always serves human value objectives.

  • Liao Shuyi, Peng Mingjia, Li Wucheng
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 20-21.

    This article explores the nature of dreams by combining psychoanalytic theory with traditional Chinese wisdom to provide an in-depth interpretation of "dreams." The article first introduces the classic psychoanalytic explanation of dreams, particularly Freud's view of dreams as manifestations of the unconscious and wish fulfillment, arguing that dreams are the realization of repressed individual desires through disguise and transformation during sleep. Subsequently, the article delves into traditional Chinese cultural understanding of dreams, starting from the literal meaning of the word "sleeping" (睡觉), explaining the ancient concept of "awareness" (觉性), and citing classical stories such as Zhuangzi's butterfly dream to illustrate the view that dreams and reality are fundamentally one, as well as Liezi's six classifications of dreams as emotional flow. The article further compares and analyzes the similarities between these two theoretical systems, finding that both psychoanalysis and traditional wisdom recognize the unity of dreams and reality, as well as the essential nature of dreams as products of the individual's spiritual world. Finally, it proposes that combining these two theories helps enrich individual psychological cognition, better understand the self, and enhance life wisdom.

  • Wang Lei
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 18-19.

    This article explores the dual impact of generative artificial intelligence on human creativity. Based on a randomized controlled experiment involving 293 participants, researchers divided participants into a pure human group and two AI-assisted groups to create short stories, which were then blindly evaluated by 600 assessors. The results show that AI assistance can indeed enhance individual creativity, with participants using AI ideas showing significant improvements in both innovation and practicality, particularly benefiting those with lower creativity levels, serving as a "creativity equalizer." However, the study also found that AI assistance leads to creative homogenization, with AI-assisted stories being more similar to each other, threatening cultural diversity. This creates a "social dilemma": while AI enhances creativity at the individual level, it may reduce overall creative diversity at the collective level. The article also discusses ethical issues in AI-assisted creation, including work ownership and disclosure requirements. The research provides insights for education and policy-making, emphasizing the need to maintain the uniqueness and diversity of human thinking while enjoying the creative enhancement brought by AI.

  • Guo Liyue
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(8): 34-35.
    This article explores the application principles and practical methods of personification in children's literature from a psychological perspective. The article points out that young children generally possess animistic thinking characteristics, that is, they tend to believe that non-living objects also have life and psychological activities. This cognitive feature stems from the egocentric tendencies of children in the preoperational stage and their cognitive style dominated by representational thinking. Based on this psychological developmental pattern, personification has natural compatibility in children's literature and can effectively promote children's understanding and acceptance of literary works. From a practical perspective, the article proposes three application methods: integrating educational goals through personified character settings, explaining natural phenomena in personified ways to promote scientific thinking development, and providing positive guidance for fearful objects to establish positive imagination. At the same time, the article also emphasizes issues that need attention when applying personification techniques, including avoiding inappropriate personification that leads to cognitive bias, maintaining narrative logical consistency, and avoiding using animism to shirk educational responsibility, providing scientific theoretical guidance and practical suggestions for children's literature creation.
  • Qiu Tian, Lu Jingyi
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(8): 23-24.
    This article explores the multidimensional concept of rationality and its impact on society. Rationality is widely understood as the ability to resist emotions and rely on reasoning and thought, a perspective known as "naive rationality." Those who pursue naive rationality tend to focus on objective facts, making decisions based on data and analysis, and are better at controlling their desires. However, this pursuit can also lead to a cold demeanor in social interactions, making it difficult to gain support from others. Additionally, people often believe they are more rational than others, a self-enhancing tendency that is, in fact, an illusion. While rationality plays an important role in decision-making, overly emphasizing it at the expense of emotions can have negative consequences. Ultimately, true wisdom lies in the coordination of rationality and emotion, as balancing both can help better navigate the challenges of life.
  • Chen Xueping, Li OuLu Shi
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(8): 43-44.
    This article explores the significant impact of brand naming on consumer psychological perception, starting from the famous Bouba-Kiki effect. The article first introduces the Bouba-Kiki effect, a psychological phenomenon where people tend to associate rounded shapes with "Bouba"-like words and sharp shapes with "Kiki"-like words. This cross-modal interaction stems from the similarity between mouth shape changes during pronunciation and visual forms. Based on this principle, the article analyzes how brands can convey specific tonalities through their names: using back vowels to create a gentle image and front vowels to embody strength. The article also explores the psychological mechanism behind reduplicative brand names, pointing out that reduplication triggers people's baby schema, making brands appear more approachable and cute, which explains why internet brands like QQ and DingTalk favor reduplicative naming. Finally, the article analyzes the phenomenon of domestic brands adopting foreign names, revealing the mechanism of the country-of-origin effect, where consumers' stereotypical impressions of product quality from specific countries influence purchasing decisions. The entire article explains the scientific basis of brand naming through psychological principles.
  • Lu Shi, Zhao Hongrui
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(8): 39-40.
    This article explores the deep psychological mechanisms behind the daily phenomenon of women collecting cups from a psychological perspective. The article employs multiple psychological theoretical viewpoints for analysis: from a psychoanalytic angle, cups symbolize maternal containers and psychological boundaries, satisfying women's need for warmth and acceptance; from an evolutionary psychology perspective, collecting cups reflects women's nurturing instincts and resource storage tendencies, while also serving as value signals to display mate value; from a consumer psychology angle, cups become carriers of symbolic consumption, helping women construct self-identity and ideal images; from an aesthetic psychology perspective, exquisite cups can trigger visual pleasure and carry emotional projections; from a gender psychology angle, cups are associated with traditional maternal roles, providing women with pathways for role expression and self-healing. The article argues that women's behavior of collecting cups actually satisfies multi-layered psychological needs including security, value, identity, pleasure, and ritual sense, demonstrating how everyday objects transcend their practical functions to become psychologically significant symbolic carriers.
  • Xu Zhifeng, Liu Yong
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 38-39.

    This article provides an in-depth psychological analysis of the audience motivations behind the currently popular mukbang phenomenon. The article identifies that mukbang viewing behavior stems primarily from five psychological mechanisms: First is psychological compensation, where viewers compensate for inner deficiencies by watching others consume expensive foods, high-calorie items, or foods they themselves cannot eat; second is obtaining reference information for trying novel foods, satisfying human curiosity about new things while reducing trial-and-error costs; third is alleviating loneliness, as mukbang provides virtual companionship for those living alone or lacking social interaction; fourth is triggering Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), bringing relaxation and pleasure through specific audiovisual stimuli; and finally, satisfying curiosity and sensory stimulation needs by watching exaggerated and novel content to enhance excitement levels. The article employs multiple psychological theoretical frameworks including psychological compensation theory, evolutionary psychology, and optimal arousal theory to systematically explain the psychological needs of mukbang audiences, revealing how this internet cultural phenomenon reflects modern people's emotional demands and social psychological states.

  • Shi Si, Su Shanshan
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(11): 4-6.
    This article analyzes the deeper causes of children's procrastination from the perspective of neuropsychology, pointing out that procrastination is not due to laziness or attitude problems but is closely related to the development of executive functions in the brain. The article elaborates on the three core components of executive functions—inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility—and explores how deficiencies in these functions lead to difficulties in task initiation and delays in completion. Additionally, the article introduces the neurological mechanisms behind procrastination, including the overactivation of the limbic system in response to immediate rewards and the suppression of the prefrontal cortex's ability to plan long-term goals. To address children's procrastination, the article proposes a series of scientific intervention strategies, such as neural function training, cognitive-behavioral interventions, environmental optimization, timely reward systems, and collaboration between families and schools, to help children improve task execution abilities and reduce procrastination. Through systematic interventions, parents and teachers can better understand and support children, providing scientific guidance and effective assistance for their learning and development.
  • Dou Mengqi
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(12): 36-37.
    This article explores the mechanisms of collective apologies in repairing relationships and obtaining forgiveness from a psychological perspective. It points out that collective apologies are more complex than interpersonal ones, with their effectiveness depending on multiple factors such as accountability, compensation measures, and the expression of remorse. The author analyzes the roles of structure, relationship, and identity in reconciliation, emphasizing the importance of non-verbal cues, moderate emotion, and the perception of "warmth," while warning against the potential negative effects of excessive expression. The article specifically elaborates on the view that "actions speak louder than words," indicating that substantive behavioral changes, timeliness, and concrete compensation measures are more effective in rebuilding trust than mere words. Finally, it concludes that an effective apology is not merely a verbal statement, but a systematic repair process involving the admission of responsibility, the correction of history, and subsequent interactions.
  • Zhou Qijun, Lu Jingyi
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 42-43.

    This article analyzes the underlying psychological reasons behind the phenomenon of online "trolls." The article identifies three main motivations for online arguments: First, to gain the pleasure of victory and attention, as arguing can activate the brain's reward system, producing feelings of pleasure while also serving as a means to boost self-esteem and demonstrate ability; second, cognitive dissonance mechanisms at work, where people experience strong discomfort when encountering opinions that conflict with their own views, instinctively choosing to refute in order to maintain the integrity of their self-cognition; third, driven by belief superiority, where many people believe they have a responsibility to "correct" others' erroneous viewpoints. The article also analyzes how the special characteristics of the online environment exacerbate this phenomenon, including anonymity reducing the cost of aggression, echo chamber effects reinforcing biases, and algorithmic mechanisms pushing controversial content. Research has found that even people who are mild-mannered in real life may become "trolls" online, and that perspective-taking not only fails to reduce conflict but may actually intensify argumentative impulses. The article reminds readers that truly mature behavior involves choosing to stop at appropriate times and maintaining rationality and clarity.

  • Li Ou, Chen Xueping
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 46-47.

    This article explores the phenomenon of the "Guzai economy" that is popular among young people today and the consumer psychology mechanisms behind it. The article first introduces the concept of Guzai, which refers to two-dimensional peripheral products made based on anime, games and other IP prototypes, particularly soft peripherals such as badges, cards, and standees, and points out that the market size of China's Guzai economy reached 168.9 billion yuan in 2024. The article analyzes the reasons why Guzai is popular from a psychological perspective: first, it satisfies young people's need for emotional value, providing emotional comfort and psychological support in a highly competitive social environment, similar to the "lipstick effect" in economics; second, it exploits human completionist psychology, stimulating consumers' desire to collect through set releases and limited sales strategies; third, Guzai has certain financial attributes, being easy to circulate and monetize in the secondary market, which reduces consumers' psychological burden of purchasing. The article argues that the Guzai economy reflects a shift in young people's consumption concepts in consumer society, from functional needs to the pursuit of emotional value.

  • Yicheng Hu, Xiaoyi Huang
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(1): 20-21.
    This article explores the phenomenon of "mental internal friction" prevalent among contemporary youth, defined as a state of overthinking and emotional fluctuation that causes physical and mental exhaustion without clear external triggers. Drawing upon psychological theories such as "limited self-regulatory resources," the article deeply analyzes four primary causes of this friction: social comparison triggered by social media, unhealthy perfectionism, decision fatigue resulting from excessive choices, and excessive rumination. Building on this analysis, the article proposes four practical strategies: setting time limits for rumination, prioritizing action over perfection, building authentic connections, and practicing self-acceptance. These strategies aim to help readers become aware of and regulate their psychological states, halt futile self-depletion, and rebuild psychological resilience.
  • Zhang Nina
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(12): 34-35.
    This article delves into the phenomenon of why individuals perceive time as passing faster as they age from a psychological perspective. It first distinguishes between the concepts of objective and subjective time, pointing out that subjective perception is influenced by cognition and emotion. Subsequently, it analyzes the psychological mechanisms behind this acceleration through three dimensions: the proportional theory of time, differences in brain processing caused by a reduction in fresh experiences, and the shift of attention from time itself to daily tasks. Finally, the author proposes concrete suggestions to slow down the subjective passage of time, including actively creating fresh experiences, practicing mindfulness to focus on the present, and recording life details, aiming to help readers regain a sense of control over time and increase the richness of their memories.
  • Xu Zhifeng, Liu Yong
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 37-38.

    This article explores the psychological phenomenon of "phone phobia," a widespread issue among modern people, referring to individuals' strong resistance, anxiety, and other negative emotional reactions when facing incoming phone calls. The article points out that according to relevant survey data, more than half of respondents report experiencing phone phobia or hesitation, with this condition being particularly common among young people. From a psychological perspective, phone phobia primarily stems from five aspects: cognitive resource overconsumption caused by time pressure; sudden invasion of personal psychological living space by incoming calls; humans' instinctive fear of the unknown; concerns about negative evaluation in social anxiety; and conditioned reflexes established with negative experiences. The article explains why phone communication is more likely to trigger anxiety than text communication, as the immediacy and uncontrollability of phone calls increase social pressure. Finally, the article provides practical suggestions, including examining the causes of fear, setting different ringtones for categorization, prioritizing text communication, and setting up blocking for unknown calls, to help readers alleviate the distress caused by phone phobia.

  • Gu Xueheng
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 12-13.

    This article analyzes the academic pressure problems faced by contemporary middle school students and their psychological mechanisms through psychological counseling cases. The article points out that middle school students are in a stage of imbalanced physiological and psychological development, and are prone to confrontational emotions, depression, low self-esteem and other psychological problems under academic pressure. From the perspective of developmental psychology, the author summarizes academic pressure into five core dimensions: the contradiction between learning difficulty and cognitive development, the insufficiency of time management ability as learning tasks increase, social comparison pressure brought by peer competition, conflicts between parental expectations and parent-child communication, and self-denial caused by incorrect attribution. In response to these problems, the article proposes corresponding support strategies, including discovering learning blind spots through verbal expression, reasonably arranging study time, guiding students from horizontal comparison to vertical growth, using nonviolent communication to improve parent-child relationships, and cultivating positive self-affirmation habits. The article emphasizes that true academic support is not about eliminating pressure, but about teaching adolescents to coexist with pressure and establish self-identity through trial and error.

  • Rudy, Qiu Tian, Lu Jingyi
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(11): 37-38.
    This article explores the formation mechanisms and psychological impacts of appearance anxiety in the social media era. It first points out that contemporary society continuously reinforces singular beauty standards through advertising and social platforms, transforming "becoming beautiful" from a personal choice into an implicit obligation. The article then analyzes from a psychological perspective that beauty standards are not fixed: at the physiological level, people prefer "average faces" and "symmetrical faces"; at the cultural level, aesthetic differences across regions and historical periods are vast; at the social movement level, initiatives like the "body positivity movement" are challenging the homogenization of mainstream aesthetics. The article further reveals how people reconcile the gap between their actual self and ideal self through consumer behavior, including using beauty filters to create visual illusions, conveying identity signals through consumption, and establishing a sense of value in other dimensions to compensate for appearance anxiety. Finally, the article calls on readers to face imperfections in the mirror, recognize that beauty standards can be redefined, and understand that self-worth should not be determined solely by appearance—true self-acceptance comes from the freedom of not being constrained by a single standard.
  • Chen Huiqing
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(11): 27-28.
    This article explores the behavioral strategies and psychological motivations of contemporary youth on social media from a psychological perspective, analyzing the deeper reasons behind the contrasting phenomena of "polished social circles" and "unfinished lives." The article argues that by showcasing carefully crafted, idealized images on social platforms, young people satisfy their pursuit of the "ideal self" and alleviate the anxiety of real-life challenges through digital and instant feedback. Meanwhile, sharing authentic and imperfect aspects in private spaces becomes a vital way for them to relieve stress and affirm the "real self." By integrating Goffman's dramaturgical theory and Higgins' self-discrepancy theory, the article explains how young people manage their psychological state through front-stage impression management and backstage emotional release, identifying these behavioral strategies as proactive responses to societal expectations and self-identity anxiety. Finally, the article reflects on the contradictions of digital living, calling on young people and social media platforms to jointly explore healthier and more sustainable modes of digital existence.
  • Wang Lei
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 15-16.

    This article, based on research published in Nature journal in 2025, explores the neural mechanisms of how chronic stress alters human behavioral patterns. The article points out that under normal circumstances, the brain maintains a balance between goal-directed behavior and habitual behavior, with the former relying on rational thinking and flexible decision-making, while the latter is based on automated responses from past experiences. However, chronic stress disrupts this balance, impairing individual autonomy and promoting the formation of rigid habits. Through mouse experiments, the research discovered a dual-pathway mechanism for stress's influence on behavioral control: the pathway from the basolateral amygdala to the dorsomedial striatum supports flexible goal-directed behavior, while the pathway from the central amygdala to the dorsomedial striatum promotes habit formation. Chronic stress inhibits the former pathway and activates the latter, making individuals more inclined to adopt rigid behavioral patterns. The study also found that this influence is reversible, and normal behavioral control capabilities can be restored through neural intervention techniques, providing new scientific evidence for understanding and treating stress-related psychological disorders.

  • Deng Shuqin
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 31-32.

    This article addresses the widespread parent-child communication difficulties in current family education and proposes systematic solutions. The article points out that over 75% of parents feel their children are unwilling to share their inner thoughts, while more than 60% of children hope their parents would change their communication methods. The root of this contradiction lies in parents adopting ineffective communication postures. Using Satir's theory, the article analyzes four common ineffective communication patterns: placating, blaming, super-reasonable, and irrelevant, which inadvertently push children away and cause alienation in parent-child relationships. As improvement methods, the article provides detailed introduction to the four steps of nonviolent communication: observing facts, expressing feelings, exploring needs, and making requests, helping parents shift from judgment to understanding. Additionally, the article introduces the "Five Love Languages" theory, including words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch, guiding parents to express love in ways children can understand. The article emphasizes that the core of effective communication is parents' willingness to enter their children's inner world, transforming from controllers to companions, ultimately achieving the transition from "unable to communicate" to "hearing the heart."

  • Jiang Ting
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 6-7.
    This article introduces the application of art therapy techniques in self-awareness and psychological healing through the author's personal experience. The author participated in an art therapy training program and gradually explored their inner world through three drawing activities: name doodling, animal self-portraits, and ideal character drawing. Through name doodling, the author discovered their state of being constrained by rigid frameworks; the evolution of animal self-portraits (from hedgehog to cat) reflected their psychological growth journey; while drawing the Powerpuff Girls embodied their desire for an ideal self. The article points out that art therapy techniques possess characteristics of universality, therapeutic value, and the ability to transcend psychological defenses, enabling participants to bypass their psychological defense mechanisms and express genuine thoughts and emotions in an unconscious state. The author believes this technique holds significant value in mental health education, helping people, particularly children, express inner feelings that are difficult to articulate, and through sharing and reflection processes, better understand themselves and gain inner resources and hope.
  • Zhou Yan
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(12): 23.
    This article traces the religious origins and historical evolution of the "Scapegoat Effect," elucidating its nature as a social psychological defense mechanism—specifically, the phenomenon wherein individuals or groups shift responsibility and negative emotions onto innocent third parties when facing setbacks. Through four typical modes of blame-shifting between groups and individuals, alongside historical and real-world cases, the article analyzes the concrete manifestations of this effect. Furthermore, by integrating the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis, psychoanalytic mechanisms of displacement and projection, and Social Identity Theory, the article provides a deep analysis of the underlying psychological drivers behind the human tendency to seek "scapegoats," revealing the operational logic of this social psychological phenomenon that transcends time and space.
  • Zhang Yanna
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(8): 2-3.
    This article explores the phenomenon of mental set and its impact on innovation from a psychological perspective. The article introduces the topic with common examples from daily life, and uses Luchins' classic water jar experiment to elaborate on the formation mechanism of mental set, revealing the pattern of how the brain forms habitual thinking after repeatedly using certain solutions. The author analyzes the dual nature of mental set: in repetitive situations, it functions like a cognitive highway that improves processing efficiency; however, in situations requiring innovation, it becomes an invisible shackle that hinders breakthroughs. The article explains the underlying reasons why mental set impedes innovation from two perspectives: the constraining effect of dominant knowledge and the brain's tendency toward "laziness," supported by neuroscientific research findings on its neural mechanisms. Finally, the article proposes two practical pathways for breaking through mental set: constructing a flattened knowledge network through interdisciplinary learning, and expanding thinking perspectives through multi-angle cognitive training and role-playing, providing readers with specific and feasible methods for cultivating innovative thinking.
  • Yang Aiping、Liang Yiming
    Popular Psychology. 2026, 33(1): 15-16.
    This article explores the psychological mechanisms through which traumatic experiences are transformed into creativity, a phenomenon known as "Post-Traumatic Growth" (PTG). It first introduces the four dimensions of creativity: fluency, novelty, creative activities, and creative achievements. Subsequently, based on a series of empirical studies, the article reveals two key psychological factors underlying the positive correlation between trauma and creativity: psychological resilience and psychological richness. Acting as a catalyst, psychological resilience primarily drives individuals to transform trauma into tangible creative activities and achievements. Meanwhile, serving as a bridge, psychological richness enhances the novelty and quality of creative outcomes by deepening individuals' understanding of and reflection on life. The research indicates that suffering does not lead solely to destruction; under the influence of specific psychological mechanisms, traumatic experiences can broaden an individual's psychological horizons, awaken dormant potential, and ultimately foster the emergence and growth of creativity.
  • Wang Jing
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 31-32.

    This article explores the socially neglected topic of elderly people's sexual and romantic needs, revealing their longing for intimate relationships and the positive impact on their physical and mental health through the real story of Uncle Shi and Aunt Tang in a nursing home. The article points out that society generally holds prejudices against elderly people's sexual needs, believing that the elderly should be "free from desires," but in reality, elderly people's sexual and romantic needs are normal and legitimate life requirements. The article analyzes the characteristics of elderly people's sexuality and love: shifting from passion-oriented to intimacy-oriented, with more diverse and flexible expressions, and a love perspective that transitions from romantic impulse to deep companionship. Addressing caregivers' confusion when facing elderly people's intimate relationships, the article proposes three suggestions: abandon prejudices and understand needs, protect privacy boundaries to allow elderly people to safely enjoy intimacy, and provide professional support to facilitate intimate relationships. The article emphasizes that elderly people's sexuality and love are fundamentally about human dignity, and the desire to love and be loved does not disappear with age. Society should provide understanding and support rather than treating it as taboo.

  • Niu Yajie, Xia Tian
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 27-28.

    This article analyzes the underlying causes and psychological mechanisms of the "slow employment" phenomenon among contemporary youth from a psychological perspective. The article points out that in the context of the "fast-paced era," many young people's choice to delay employment is not due to lack of ability or escapism, but rather because they are in a "psychological weaning period" during the transition from student to social member, requiring buffer time to establish their self-identity. The article examines the time anxiety and psychological pressure that fast-paced society brings to youth, revealing three psychological motivations behind "slow employment": decision paralysis, awakening of existential values, and the struggle for temporal autonomy. The authors argue that slow employment is actually a "structured exploration strategy" adopted by young people, using proactive rhythm management to find career paths suitable for themselves. The article emphasizes that slow employment is not passive stagnation, but rather a strategic life buffera manifestation of self-protection and growth among contemporary youth under high-pressure environments. Society should provide more understanding and support rather than constant urging.

  • Shentu Yuan
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(12): 38-39.
    This article provides an accessible analysis of the "anchoring effect" in consumer psychology, revealing how merchants utilize preconceived price information to construct an illusion of "reasonable prices," thereby distorting consumers' value judgments. It elaborates on the psychological mechanisms behind this effect, detailing three manifestations: basic anchoring, semantic anchoring, and self-generated anchors, while also analyzing influencing factors such as decision-maker traits, anchor credibility, and situational complexity. Finally, the article offers practical advice for consumers, advocating strategies such as establishing independent value benchmarks, comparing prices across multiple channels, and setting cooling-off periods to avoid marketing traps and return to rational consumption decisions.
  • Fan Tengy
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 23-24.

    TThis article explores the underlying reasons for the popularity of "Chinese horror" among young people and its impact. The article points out that "Chinese horror" has emerged since 2017, creating a terrifying atmosphere through folk symbols such as suona, red lanterns, and embroidered shoes, garnering over 3.9 billion views on platforms like TikTok. From a psychological perspective, young people's fascination with "Chinese horror" stems from three main aspects: first, familiarity with traditional cultural symbols, where these symbols are given specific meanings within social and cultural contexts based on cognitive schema theory; second, diverse entertainment experiences in social media environments, explaining how audiences achieve psychological satisfaction in safe environments through excitation transfer theory; third, as a rebellious expression for stress relief, where people vent real-world anxieties in virtual horror scenarios. However, the article also points out that "Chinese horror" suffers from problems such as over-commercialization and commercialization that dissolves cultural connotations, as well as potential negative impacts on adolescent psychological development, calling for a balance between entertainment value and cultural significance in creation and dissemination.

  • Mao Mengjie, Wang Chen
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(9): 2-3.
    This article introduces a new treatment method for children with ADHD - game-based digital therapeutics. The article first explains the basic concept and prevalence of ADHD, noting that the global prevalence rate among children is 7.6%, while China's rate is 5.5%. Although traditional medication treatment is effective, it has side effects, and offline behavioral therapy faces issues such as high costs and fixed locations. The article then provides a detailed explanation of the concept of digital therapeutics and uses EndeavorRx as an example to introduce the working principles and usage methods of game-based digital therapeutic software. The article analyzes three major advantages of this new method: high entertainment value that stimulates children's participation enthusiasm, convenience that breaks time and space limitations, and accessibility that addresses resource scarcity issues. It also objectively points out limitations, including the inability to completely replace traditional therapies, limited evidence for the sustainability of treatment effects, strong dependence on electronic devices, and potential health risks. Finally, it looks forward to the development prospects of this field in China and calls for more attention and research investment.
  • Han Zikang
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 35-36.

    This article delves deeply into contemporary society's excessive promotion of children's "precocity" and "sensibility" and the psychological costs behind it. The article points out that the traditional Chinese cultural values of "being mature beyond one's years," combined with modern society's competitive anxiety, have made "sensible children" a universally praised ideal. However, from a psychological perspective, premature maturity may lead to problems such as self-division and role displacement in children. Using the concepts of "true self" and "false self" from psychoanalytic theory, the article reveals the inner contradictions of "sensible" children: they learn to cater to adult expectations but may lose their ability for authentic self-expression. Attachment theory and developmental psychology research indicate that being forced to bear emotional responsibilities beyond their age affects children's normal development, particularly the lack of play and exploration abilities may lead to limited creativity and emotional regulation difficulties. The article concludes by proposing that families, schools, and society should work together to establish genuine emotional "container" functions, improve evaluation standards, and protect the natural rhythm of children's growth, allowing children to do age-appropriate things at the appropriate age.

  • Chen Jun, Pan Xiao
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 4-5.

    This article analyzes the deep connection between skin itching and emotional states from a psychological perspective. The article points out that skin and brain originate from the same ectoderm during embryonic development. When people face stress and anxiety, the brain initiates stress responses that affect skin immune function and barrier integrity, amplifying mild itching signals several times over. The article provides detailed analysis of the psychological triggers behind common skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, chronic urticaria, and neurodermatitis, revealing their associations with psychological characteristics including contact anxiety, emotional suppression, psychological trauma, and perfectionism. In response to this mind-body interaction mechanism, the article proposes comprehensive intervention strategies including mindfulness breathing techniques, emotional journaling, cognitive restructuring exercises, and tactile substitution therapy. It demonstrates the effectiveness of combined "anti-inflammatory + mindfulness stress reduction" treatment through a real case study. The article emphasizes that when skin becomes a window for emotional expression, medication alone often has limited effectiveness, requiring comprehensive treatment that addresses the root causes of mind-body connection.

  • Wang Xiaochen, Hou Wei
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(11): 46-47.
    This article introduces the PASS theory of intelligence proposed by Canadian psychologist J.P. Das and colleagues, which breaks through the limitations of traditional IQ measurement by understanding intelligence as a dynamic system composed of four cognitive processes: Planning, Attention, Simultaneous processing, and Successive processing. The article explains how these four processes work collaboratively: attention focuses on information, simultaneous processing integrates scattered information into a whole, successive processing handles information sequentially, and planning coordinates the overall system while flexibly adjusting strategies. The cognitive assessment system DN:CAS, developed based on this theory, can generate individualized cognitive profiles that precisely identify the root causes of learning difficulties. Through practical cases involving reading disabilities and mathematical difficulties, the article demonstrates how intervention programs such as PREP and COGENT are used for targeted training to help students enhance their cognitive abilities. The PASS theory of intelligence shifts the educational perspective from deficit judgment to developmental understanding, emphasizing that intelligence is a cognitive process that can be cultivated and optimized, providing a scientific basis for differentiated instruction.
  • Chen Xiang
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(12): 10-11.
    Using a first-grade primary school student as a case study, this article explores practical approaches to home-school collaboration in the cultivation of study habits for lower-grade students. Addressing issues such as a lack of classroom focus, homework procrastination, and low self-efficacy, the article incorporates psychological theories to elaborate on a communication mechanism featuring "immediate feedback plus regular review" and an intervention plan involving "behavior modification plus grade tracking." Through multidimensional strategies—including the implementation of a "star reward system" to reinforce positive behaviors, the utilization of family role modeling, and the provision of emotional encouragement from teachers—the student's self-control and learning initiative were effectively enhanced. The results indicate that scientific home-school collaboration can significantly improve student behavioral habits and academic performance, offering a valuable practical model for education in the lower grades.
  • Qiu Zhiyue
    Popular Psychology. 2025, 32(10): 10-11.

    This article documents the growth and transformation of a problem student named Xia Yang over a two-year period from sixth to seventh grade through a real educational case study. Initially, Xia Yang exhibited behaviors as a "troublemaker" who was irritable, explosive, and frequently conflicted with classmates, later developing more serious behavioral issues including theft and bullying. The article provides a detailed account of how the teacher discovered the root causes of his behavioral problems through in-depth understanding of the student's family background, which stemmed from a special family structure and lack of proper guidance. In response to problems arising at different stages, the teacher implemented diversified intervention measures, including one-on-one conversations, home-school cooperation, peer influence, participation in group activities, legal education, and psychological counseling. Through sustained educational support, Xia Yang gradually learned emotional management, established correct values, and made significant progress in both academic performance and interpersonal relationships. The article emphasizes that educational work requires patience, compassion, and responsibility, demonstrating the importance of individualized teaching and continuous attention to student development.