The Effects of Perceived Social Mindfulness and Anthropomorphic Avatar on Internet Altruistic Behavior: Evidence from Behavior and ERP

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2026.05.013

Abstract

Abstract: The relationship and time process between perceived social mindfulness (PSM) and internet altruistic behavior (IAB) under different anthropomorphic network avatar (ANA) conditions were examined using the SoMi paradigm combined with ERP techniques. The results showed that: 1) High (vs. low) PSM produced more IAB. 2) High (vs. low) PSM induced smaller N2 amplitude (reflecting conflict monitoring) and larger P3 amplitude (reflecting motivation assessment) when triggering IAB. 3) ANA moderated the differences in N2 and P3 wave amplitudes when performing IAB under different PSM. Specifically, in the face of high ANA, the N2 wave amplitude induced by implementing IAB in the low PSM condition was greater than that in the high PSM condition, and the difference was more significant in the face of low ANA. And in the face of low ANA, the P3 wave amplitude induced by implementing IAB in the high PSM condition was greater than that in the low PSM condition, and the difference was more significant in the face of high ANA. The findings provide a new perspective for understanding the underlying mechanism of IAB.

Key words: internet altruistic behavior, perceived social mindfulness, anthropomorphic network avatar, ERP

摘要： 采用SoMi范式并结合ERP技术考察不同拟人化网络头像条件下感知社会善念与网络利他行为的关系及其时间进程，结果发现：(1)高(vs.低)感知社会善念引发更多的网络利他行为。(2)高(vs.低)感知社会善念引发网络利他行为时诱发了更小的N2波幅(反映冲突监控)和更大的P3波幅(反映动机评估)。(3)拟人化网络头像调节了不同感知社会善念下网络利他行为的N2和P3波幅差异。具体而言，面对高拟人化头像，低感知社会善念下网络利他行为诱发更大的N2波幅，且该差异在低拟人化头像时更显著；面对低拟人化头像，高感知社会善念下网络利他行为诱发更大的P3波幅，且该差异在高拟人化头像时进一步增强。研究结果为理解网络利他行为的内在机制提供了新视角。

关键词: 网络利他行为, 感知社会善念, 拟人化网络头像, 事件相关电位

CLC Number:

B849

ZHENG Xianliang, LIU Zhiqing, FAN Hao, GUAN Ping, LIU Xiyu. The Effects of Perceived Social Mindfulness and Anthropomorphic Avatar on Internet Altruistic Behavior: Evidence from Behavior and ERP[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(5): 672-679.

郑显亮, 刘志青, 范淏, 官平, 刘玺玉. 感知社会善念与拟人化网络头像对网络利他行为的影响：来自行为与ERP的证据[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2026, 24(5): 672-679.

References

窦凯, 刘耀中, 王玉洁, 聂衍刚. (2018). “乐”于合作: 感知社会善念诱导合作行为的情绪机制. 心理学报, 50(1), 101–114
王婷, 赵梁佛, 杨金朋, 张丹丹, 雷震. (2024). 分配意图与上行间接互惠: 来自行为与ERP的证据. 心理学报, 56(12), 1788–1799
袁博, 刘怡畅, 库婷婷. (2024). 感知社会善念对青少年亲社会行为的影响. 心理科学, 47(5), 1153–1162
郑显亮. (2010). 大学生网络利他行为: 量表编制与多层线性分析(博士学位论文). 上海师范大学.
钟毅平, 牛娜娜, 范伟, 任梦梦, 李梅. (2023). 动作自主性与社会距离对主动控制感的影响: 来自行为与ERPs的证据. 心理学报, 55(12), 1932–1948
Baek, T. H., Bakpayev, M., Yoon, S., & Kim, S. (2022). Smiling AI agents: How anthropomorphism and broad smiles increase charitable giving. International Journal of Advertising, 41(5), 850–867
Botvinick, M. M., Braver, T. S., Barch, D. M., Carter, C. S., & Cohen, J. D. (2001). Conflict monitoring and cognitive control. Psychological Review, 108(3), 624–652
Carlson, R. W., Aknin, L. B., & Liotti, M. (2016). When is giving an impulse? An ERP investigation of intuitive prosocial behavior. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 11(7), 1121–1129
Crick, N. R., & Dodge, K. A. (1994). A review and reformulation of social information-processing mechanisms in children’s social adjustment. Psychological Bulletin, 115(1), 74–101
Erreygers, S., Vandebosch, H., Vranjes, I., Baillien, E., & De Witte, H. (2018). Positive or negative spirals of online behavior? Exploring reciprocal associations between being the actor and the recipient of prosocial and antisocial behavior online. New Media & Society, 20(9), 3437–3456
Li, M., Li, J., Tan, M., Li, H., & Zhong, Y. P. (2021). Exposure to money modulates the processing of charitable donation: An event-related potentials study. Neuroscience Letters, 765, 136277
Manesi, Z., van Lange, P. A. M., van Doesum, N. J., & Pollet, T. V. (2019). What are the most powerful predictors of charitable giving to victims of typhoon Haiyan: Prosocial traits, socio-demographic variables, or eye cues. Personality and Individual Differences, 146, 217–225
Mull, I., Wyss, J., Moon, E., & Lee, S. E. (2015). An exploratory study of using 3D avatars as online salespeople: The effect of avatar type on credibility, homophily, attractiveness and intention to interact. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 19(2), 154–168
Nowak, K. L., & Rauh, C. (2005). The influence of the avatar on online perceptions of anthropomorphism, androgyny, credibility, homophily, and attraction. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11(1), 153–178
Pelau, C., Dabija, D. C., & Ene, I. (2021). What makes an AI device human-like? The role of interaction quality, empathy and perceived psychological anthropomorphic characteristics in the acceptance of artificial intelligence in the service industry. Computers in Human Behavior, 122, 106855
Praetorius, A. S., & G?rlich, D. (2020). How avatars influence user behavior: A review on the Proteus effect in virtual environments and video games. In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (pp. 1–9). Bugibba, Malta: ACM.
Short, J., Williams, E., & Christie, B. (1976). The social psychology of telecommunications. London: John Wiley & Sons.
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 94–109). Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.
van Doesum, N. J., de Vries, R. E., Blokland, A. A. J., Hill, J. M., Kuhlman, D. M., Stivers, A. W., … van Lange, P. A. M. (2020). Social mindfulness: Prosocial the active way. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(2), 183–193
van Doesum, N. J., Murphy, R. O., Gallucci, M., Aharonov-Majar, E., Athenstaedt, U., Au, W. T., … van Lange, P. A. M. (2021). Social mindfulness and prosociality vary across the globe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(35), e2023846118
van Doesum, N. J., van Lange, D. A. W., & van Lange, P. A. M. (2013). Social mindfulness: Skill and will to navigate the social world. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105(1), 86–103
van Lange, P. A., & van Doesum, N. J. (2015). Social mindfulness and social hostility. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 3, 18–24
Verhoef, R. E. J., van Dijk, A., & De Castro, B. O. (2022). A dual-mode social-information-processing model to explain individual differences in children’s aggressive behavior. Clinical Psychological Science, 10(1), 41–57
Xiao, F. Q., Zheng, Z. W., Wang, Y., Cui, J. F., & Chen, Y. H. (2015). Conflict monitoring and stimulus categorization processes involved in the prosocial attitude implicit association test: Evidence from event-related potentials. Social Neuroscience, 10(4), 408–417
Yamagishi, T., Jin, N., & Kiyonari, T. (1999). Bounded generalized reciprocity: Ingroup boasting and ingroup favoritism. Advances in Group Processes, 16, 161–197
Ye, Y. C., Jiang, P. T., & Zhang, W. K. (2022). The neural and psychological processes of peer-influenced online donation decision: An event-related potential study. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 899233
Zhang, Q. Q., Li, W. X., Zhang, M. N., Zhao, K., Liu, R. N., & Ma, C. (2024). Internet altruistic behavior among Chinese early adolescents: Exploring differences in gender and collective efficacy using a latent growth modeling. Current Psychology, 43, 5007–5019

[1]	LIU Ting, ZHOU Guangfang, JIN Hua, ZHANG Shanshan, TANG Hui. Will I Still Trust Him? The Impact of Misinformation Correction on Interpersonal Trust and Its Cognitive Mechanisms [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(5): 664-671.
[2]	GUO Fengbo, LI Siyuan, CHENG Hang, GUO Hongyu, DENG Xi, LIANG Xiuling. Machiavellianism Modulates Generalized Trust Decisions and Outcomes Evaluation: Evidence from an ERPs Study [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(5): 680-687.
[3]	Zhen WU, Xue TIAN. The Influence of Body Posture on Interpersonal Trust: The Competing Roles of Positive Emotion and Sense of Power [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(3): 320-326.
[4]	Rongrong WANG, Rong BAI, Xia LIU. The Impact of Distal and Proximal Interpersonal Victimization on Adolescent Repetitive Self-Injury: The Protective Role of Social Support [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(3): 343-350.
[5]	Juncai WANG, Yan WU. Trust and Its Repair in Betrayal Trauma Individuals: The Moderating Role of Perceived Social Mindfulness [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2025, 23(6): 830-838.
[6]	Ying LI, Xiaoxiao LU, Peizhi WANG, Ying ZHAO, Yue WANG. The Interaction Between Abstract and Concrete Semantics in the Processing of Chinese Verbal Metaphors [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2025, 23(5): 577-585.
[7]	Lu ZHANG, Wuyuntena. The Effect of Social Presence on College Students’ Online Prosocial Behavior: The Perspective of I³ Model [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2025, 23(4): 528-535.
[8]	Chenhui DAI, Xiaojun ZHAO, Changxiu SHI, Mingzhen LI, Yaoyao ZHAO. The Influence of Social Exclusion on Interpersonal Trust: A Dual Analytical View Based on the Scenario Perspective and Trait Perspective [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2025, 23(3): 384-390.
[9]	Jinjin BAO, Fang DING, Xiaoyang ZUO. The Development of Primary School Children’s Ability of Interactional Justice Cognition and Its Impacts on Social Mindfulness [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2025, 23(2): 177-184.
[10]	Lihua ZHANG, Bo YANG, Xin LIU. The Impact of Social Exclusion on Hostile Interpretation Bias of Different Types of Narcissists [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2025, 23(2): 257-264.
[11]	Xinyue ZENG, Yanling LIU, Xu WANG. The Influence of Interpersonal Relationships on the Psychological Suzhi of Middle School Students: The Longitudinal Mediating Role of Self-Esteem [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2025, 23(2): 273-279.
[12]	Kunying SONG, Linlin FENG, Zheng WANG, Xuejun BAI, Feifei LIANG. The Relative Contributions of Word Frequency and Contextual Diversity in Chinese Word Identification: Evidence from an ERP Study [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2024, 22(4): 433-441.
[13]	Yue MA, Jie WU, Shiqi ZHA, Chun YANG. Core Symptoms in Adolescents Interpersonal Distress and Its Network Relationship with Parent-Child Attachment and Psychological Boundaries [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2024, 22(4): 478-485.
[14]	Juan SONG, Zhibin JIAO, Xue YANG, Gaoxin HAN, Yiyue CHEN, Tao LIAN, Jingyuan LIANG. Shared Experience of Social Exclusion Increases Female’s Cooperative Tendency: An fNIRS-Based Hyperscanning Study [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2024, 22(4): 553-561.
[15]	Haiyan ZHAO, Aibao ZHOU, Haixia CHI, Hongmin BAI, Changchun YE, Yanni JIANG. The Connection Between Perceived Interparental Conflict, Parent-Child Relationship and Adolescent Psychological Crisis: The Mediation of Cognitive Flexibility [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2024, 22(2): 227-233.