Recent research indicates that helpers may be subjected to criticism not only from the help-recipients but also from third parties. Accordingly, this study hypothesizes four factors (effort, time, money, and risk) as constraints on assistance and four factors (nonnecessity, norm deviation, selfish motivation, and mental burden) as reasons for lowered impression. To investigate the reasons for lowered impression, the researchers contrasted a normal scenario with exaggerated ones where the separate constraining factors were manipulated as independent variables. The results indicated that compared to the normal scenario, helpers obtained lower evaluations in the three conditions that manipulated effort, money, and risk. Moreover, the effects of norm deviation and nonnecessity on lowered impression were larger than that in the effort and time scenarios. However, only a large norm-deviation effect was observed in the money and risk scenarios.

This study examined the process of transmission of implicit theories of intelligence (ITI) between parents and children and the possibility of being moderated by the degree of agreement in ITI between the parents. We measured parents’ and children’s ITI in 211 households comprising fathers, mothers, and middle school-age children and asked the children about their perceptions of their parents’ ITI. The moderated mediation analysis revealed that when there was high agreement between the parents’ ITI, the father’s ITI mediated the children’s perception of the father’s ITI and influenced the children’s. However, with the low agreement between the parents’ ITI, the father’s ITI did not predict the children’s perceptions of it. The mother’s ITI mediated the child’s perception of the mother’s ITI and influenced the child’s ITI regardless of the degree of agreement with the father’s. The direct effect of parents’ ITI on their children’s ITI was significant, regardless of the level of agreement. The results indicate the need to examine the degree of agreement between the parents’ ITI.

The number of Apathetic School Refusal (ASR) is increasing in junior high school. ASR is distinguished from a state of emotional confusion, and the distinction between these two states depends on whether they have any conflicts. However, no scales have been developed to measure ASR’s construct. In this study, the Apathy Scale for junior high school students was developed, and its relevance to measuring school avoidance and attendance records was examined. In Study 1, results showed the scale consists of four factors: “diminished vitality,” “adaptation to others,” “avoidance of interpersonal communication,” and “lack of future prospects.” In addition, reliability and convergent validity were confirmed. In Study 2, cross-validity and criterion-related validity (concurrent validity and predictive validity) were examined, and the score of this scale showed positive correlations with school avoidance and attendance records.

This study examined how anxiety regarding the COVID-19 pandemic affects loneliness. We conducted a longitudinal survey of Japanese adults aged 20 to 79 years (N =941), who were assessed twice (Time 1 in December 2020 and Time 2 in August 2021). The results of a cross-lagged effects model showed that anxiety levels recorded at Time 1 predicted loneliness levels at Time 2. These results indicate that people who feel anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic will tend to become lonely.

The relationship between Jung’s psychological types and Sensory Processing Sensitivity was investigated. Undergraduate students (N=263) completed the Japanese version of the Sensory Processing Scale and Jung Psychological Types Scale (JPTS). The results indicated that the Introverted Feeling types have characteristics of more ease of excitation, while Extraverted Sensation types and Extraverted Intuition types have less ease of excitation. These findings suggest that characteristics of psychological types are elaborated from the viewpoint of Sensory Processing Sensitivity.

This study examined the associations between school maladjustment, depression, and self-esteem using a short-term longitudinal survey of high school students. We analyzed data from 984 students who completed all first and second semester (two waves) assessments. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed a significant relationship between school maladjustment, depression, and self-esteem in both waves. Specifically, maladaptive signs and lack of social competence were significantly positively associated with depression, and lack of perceived self-acceptance was significantly negatively related to self-esteem.

This study examined the interaction between unmitigated communion (UC) and gender on gender system justification (GSJ). UC is a trait of putting others before oneself. GSJ is a tendency to maintain the status quo, even if it is unequal. Participants included 200 females and 200 males (M_age=20.5). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted including the interaction terms of UC and GSJ. Since the interaction was significant, a simple main effect test was conducted, a positive association for females, and a negative association for males. The results were interpreted regarding the fit in society for females and a lack of merit for males.

Grit is a positive noncognitive ability that has been associated with positive social outcomes and improved mental health. To address the research gap in Japan regarding the temporal stability of grit, a three-year longitudinal survey (T1: N=1,087–T3: N=546) was conducted among caregivers. The study aimed to determine whether grit is a stable personality trait. The study also compared the change in scale scores and longitudinal correlations of grit with those of the Big Five personality traits. The results revealed that the average score changes were minimal for grit and the BIF Five personality traits. However, the longitudinal correlations of individuals for grit were lower, indicating that grit characteristics may change through various experiences.

We examined whether people’s trait increases when asked to impress others with that trait. Participants (N=422) reported their extraversion/introversion and social desirability of extraversion and introversion. After 7 to 10 days, we asked them to write a self-introduction that gave either an extraverted or introverted impression, depending on their condition. Their extraversion/introversion was measured before the self-introduction. Results indicated that (1) only extraversion was rated desirable, (2) a trait to be presented increased in both conditions, and (3) there was a greater effect on extraversion, suggesting that internalization of self-presentation occurred even without self-presentation, especially for socially desirable traits.

Attitudes toward sexual consent are related to sentencing recommendations for sexual perpetrators in Japan and Canada. However, this tendency may also depend on culture. This study investigated the cultural differences in perceived appropriateness of punishment against sexual crimes as a function of attitudes toward sexual consent in Japan and Korea. Consistent with previous research, the results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that Japanese participants who perceived sexual consent as important were more likely to perceive punishment as appropriate. However, the opposite pattern was observed among Korean participants. A possible reason for these findings was further discussed.