This study investigated preferences towards abstract vs. realist and low vs. high complexity paintings in context of personality traits (measured with NEO PI-R Inventory), selected demographics and art experience (aesthetic interests, knowledge and preferences). 134 participants completed an online survey, rating attractiveness and artistic value of 48 paintings grouped on two continuum scales: abstractedness-realism and general complexity of the composition. Art experience and Openness to Experience positively (while Neuroticism and Conscientiousness negatively) correlated with high judgments of abstract and low complexity artworks. High Extraversion level was positively correlated with high ratings of abstract paintings. The findings support some and contradict other previous results, reflecting the need of application of stylistic dichotomy scales (rather than style differentiation) into future research.

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Adolescent mental health has become a public concern, and it is necessary to know how problem behaviors affect academic achievement. The current study surveyed 12,672 adolescents in eastern China, and results indicated clinical cut-offs on each problem behavior. We then examined how internalizing problems lead to negative academic results. Findings suggest Attention problems are a key factor. Anxiety/depression and somatic complaints have no direct effect on academic performance but are mediated by attention problems. This study can serve practice of schooling and parenting, and provide basis for developing clinical intervention strategy in China.

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This research explored competing predictions for the relation between uncertainty and interpersonal attraction. Two studies investigated whether uncertainty regarding another person’s interest is associated with an increase or decrease in attraction. Study 1 revealed that when participants evaluated people whose expressed attraction was either certain or uncertain, participants experienced more liking for those who were associated with certainty. In Study 2, compared to a control condition, uncertainty produced more attraction but the greater attraction was mediated by a desire to reduce uncertainty. We conclude by proposing an explanation for why different research paradigms have produced different conclusions regarding uncertainty and the situations necessary for uncertainty to produce interpersonal attraction.

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This study was conducted to investigate an unconscious aspect of immediate incubation effect in creativity. To understand the process of immediate incubation, we used a remote association test (RAT) and a lexical decision task (LDT) for measuring word accessibility which represents unconscious activation. Correct response to the RAT was measured for the conscious reporting. In Experiments, participants were given 20 moderate and difficult RAT items with, or without certain incubation time. The incubation group showed significant improvement in word accessibility on the RAT answers through the lexical decision, relative to the control group. The incubation group, however, did not show improvement in their reporting of actual RAT answers. These findings confirm a two-step process of the incubation effect, in the sense that unconscious level activation often fails to be retrieved to the conscious surface. In addition, the difficulty of item had no significant effect on both actual RAT answers and word accessibility of the answer.

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