Zhongyong Thinking Research Articles

Influence of social mindfulness and Zhongyong thinking style on cooperative financial decision making in a Western sample.

Social mindfulness and Zhongyong thinking style are of high importance when evaluating relevant co-actors in the social world. The current study investigates the influence of social mindfulness and Zhongyong thinking style on cooperative financial decision making in a public goods game among a Canadian sample. We hypothesize that higher perceived social mindfulness and higher perceived Zhongyong thinking style will increase the amount of money contributed to a joint project in a public goods game. The sample was a prolific-based online recruited sample of n = 125 Canadians. We observed a significant main effect of Zhongyong thinking style on the amount of contributed money in the public goods game. Social mindfulness did not reach significance. The influence of Zhongyong thinking style was qualified by a significant Zhongyong by gender interaction, indicating that females but not males reduced their contributions if the Zhongyong thinking style of the co-actor was manipulated as being low. It is shown that Zhongyong thinking style is also relevant in a Western cultural setting. Future research is needed, however, to investigate further the reasons for the differences between females and males.

The Impact of Zhongyong Thinking on Employees Mental Health

Zhongyong is a moral standard set forth by Confucian culture, meaning maintaining neutrality and moderation. Many people tend to have a misunderstanding of Zhongyong thinking, believing that Zhongyong represents compromise and the middle position. They might consider that such thinking is detrimental to healthy mental development. However, Zhongyong thinking is not the same as compromise, and instead it allows the coexistence of contradictions and opposites. After reviewing a series of previous articles on Zhongyong thinking and mental health, it is shown that Zhongyong thinking plays a moderating role in the employees psychological state. Moreover, the factors affecting the influence of Zhongyong thinking on employees' mental health include psychological resilience and psychological security. Ultimately, the review found that one of the main reasons for the moderation of psychological states in the workplace is because it affects emotional regulation and alleviates symptoms of depression and anxiety. Plus, Zhongyong thinking related training also was shown some benefits. A limitation of previous studies is that subjective questionnaires were used to measure the level of Zhongyong thinking and other psychological variables, which could be less accurate. Future research directions could explore how to accurately demonstrate dynamic Zhongyong thinking processes through experimental and longitudinal design.

Harmonising innovation: the nexus of Zhong-Yong thinking, innovation behaviour, R&D resource allocation, and exploratory innovation

ABSTRACT Hambrick and Mason [1984. “Upper Echelons: The Organization as a Reflection of Its Top Managers.” Academy of Management Review 9 (2): 193–206. doi:10.2307/258434] identified that organisational outcomes – strategies and effectiveness – could be regarded as reflections of the values and cognitive bases of top executives in the organisation. However, theory in entrepreneurship literature on how CEOs' characteristics transform resources to create value has been minimal. On the basis of Hambrick and Mason's ‘upper-echelons’ perspective, the present study examines the influence of the Zhong-Yong thinking style of Chinese entrepreneurs on firm-level exploratory innovation. Our theorisation sheds light on the intermediate processes linking Zhong-Yong thinking style with exploratory innovation. Results of a structured time-lagged (two-wave) survey investigation of 144 manufacturing SMEs in China indicate that the Zhong-Yong thinking style of Chinese CEOs increases their innovation behaviour. Furthermore, the innovation behaviour of entrepreneurs leads to the allocation of R&D resources, which increases exploratory innovation in Chinese SMEs.

The Mediated Moderation of Conscientiousness and Active Involution on Zhongyong Practical Thinking and Depression.

This study integrates traditional Chinese culture, precisely the philosophy of Zhongyong () thinking, with the prevention and treatment of depression. It involved a study with 700 undergraduate students from a college in Guangzhou, using the Negative Zhongyong Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory for assessments. The findings demonstrated that negative Zhongyong thinking predicts depression inversely. Additionally, conscientiousness indirectly and positively influences this relationship through active involution, thereby enhancing its overall effect. The analysis used the 2-mediated moderation (2meMO) model, which effectively handles error heterogeneous variances and provides a detailed assessment of the interactions between these variables. The specific findings are as follows: (1) There are correlations among negative Zhongyong thinking, depression, conscientiousness, and active involution; (2) Conscientiousness can directly and positively regulate the association between negative Zhongyong thinking and depression, and it can also indirectly regulate this relationship through active involution; (3) The higher the conscientiousness, the more actively individuals engage in active involution, thereby strengthening the negative predictive effect of negative Zhongyong thinking on depression. These research findings contribute to the enrichment of theoretical research on the prevention and treatment of depressive symptoms and offer a fresh perspective on the utilization of traditional Chinese culture in depression prevention and treatment.

The effect of controllable and uncontrollable brand crises and product involvement on consumers’ repurchase intention

In this study we examined the impact of a controllable brand crisis vs. an uncontrollable brand crisis on consumers’ repurchase intention depending on degree of product involvement. The results revealed the mediating role of consumer forgiveness and the moderating role of Zhongyong thinking. In Experiment 1, we recruited 406 participants; the results showed that product involvement strengthened the negative impact of brand crisis type on consumer forgiveness, leading to less willingness to repurchase. In Experiment 2, we recruited 829 participants; the results revealed that priming Zhongyong thinking weakened the negative impact of brand crisis type on consumer forgiveness that led to less willingness to repurchase. Theoretically, the findings in this research distinguish the interaction effects between product characteristics and brand crisis according to type, and our research provides in- depth discussion of the role of brand crisis in marketing. Practically, we provide beneficial suggestions for taking advantage of East Asian culture and applying Zhongyong thinking to attenuate the negative impact of a brand crisis on consumers’ repurchase intention.

How and when employees’ boundary-spanning behavior improves their creative performance: A moderated mediation model

Abstract This article draws on status characteristics theory to explore the mechanisms of individual-level boundary-spanning behavior on employee creative performance, as well as the mediating role of informal status and the moderating role of Zhongyong thinking. The results of a two-wave questionnaire survey of 202 employees show that boundary-spanning behavior has a significant positive relationship with employees’ creative performance, informal status mediates the link between boundary-spanning behavior and creative performance of this employee, Zhongyong thinking plays a moderating role between employees’ boundary-spanning behavior and their informal status, and Zhongyong thinking also moderates the mediating role of informal status between boundary-spanning behavior and employee creative performance. In this paper, a moderated mediation model is established to enhance the understanding of the effects and mechanisms of individual boundary-spanning behavior, as well as to provide some constructive insight into how boundary-spanning behavior can be effectively employed in management practice within the Chinese context.

The Effect of Pre-Service Teachers’ Family Adaptation on Anxiety: A Moderated Mediating Effect

This study aimed to examine the effects of family adaptation on anxiety, and the role of Zhongyong thinking style and intentional self-regulation in this association. A hypothetical model of the relationship between family adaptation, Zhongyong thinking style, intentional self-regulation, and anxiety was tested. A convenience sampling method was used to survey 1192 pre-service teachers in Yunnan Province on a self-report scale. Data were collected using the Family Adaptability Scale, the Zhongyong Thinking Style Scale, the Adolescent Intentional Self-Regulation Questionnaire, and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. The results show significant positive correlations among the three variables of family adaptation, Zhongyong thinking style and intentional self-regulation, and significant negative correlations with anxiety, respectively. Pre-service teachers’ family adaptation had a direct positive predictive effect on anxiety, which in turn indirectly predicted anxiety through the mediating effect of the Zhongyong thinking style, and individuals’ intentional self-regulation had a moderating effect of family adaptation on the Zhongyong thinking style. This study shows how family adaptation affects pre-service teachers’ anxiety; the results of this study also help to demonstrate the academic value of family adaptation and Zhongyong thinking style in optimally reducing pre-service teachers’ anxiety, and thus promoting good psychological status.

Self-experience consistency and life satisfaction: The mediating role of the need for relatedness and the moderating role of Zhong-yong thinking

Self-experience consistency has an important effect on life satisfaction; however, the underlying mechanism of this relationship remains unclear. This study aims to examine why self-experience consistency is related to increased life satisfaction. To do so, we investigated the relationships between self-experience consistency, the need for relatedness, Zhong-yong thinking, and life satisfaction in a sample of 456 undergraduate students. We also tested a moderated mediation model examining Zhong-yong thinking as a moderator. The results suggest that self-experience consistency related to life satisfaction was due, in part, to an increased need for relatedness. However, interpretation of this finding is limited by the use of cross-sectional data. Furthermore, Zhong-yong thinking moderated the self-experience consistency—need for relatedness link, such that the link was stronger for individuals with high/moderate levels of Zhong-yong thinking. Overall, these findings address a major gap in the positive psychology literature. Finally, implications for research are discussed.

Bridging the Great Divide: Investigating the Potent Synergy between Leadership, Zhong-Yong Philosophy, and Green Innovation in China

Zhong-yong thinking, a typical value orientation and mode of thought in traditional Chinese culture, has garnered significant scholarly attention. Various cross-sectional studies have explored the relationship between Zhong-yong thinking and innovation; yet, research specifically examining the impact of Zhong-yong thinking on green innovation is scarce. This study adopts the upper echelons theory and theory of manager cognition to investigate the influence of entrepreneurs’ Zhong-yong thinking on green innovation while simultaneously considering institutional pressure and enterprise ownership types as boundary conditions. By analyzing 302 questionnaire responses, the empirical results demonstrate a direct positive effect of Zhong-yong thinking on green innovation. Moreover, institutional pressure positively moderates the relationship between Zhong-yong thinking and green innovation. State-owned enterprises exhibit a more significant impact of Zhong-yong thinking on green innovation than non-SOEs. Overall, this study contributes to the theoretical research of Zhong-yong in management disciplines, particularly in the green innovation literature. Its findings also hold implications for the practice of green innovation in enterprises.

The Effect of Perceived Discrimination on Social Alienation of Probationers: Evidence from China

Applying an integrated mode of labeling theory, this study conducted an empirical analysis of 427 probationers from 48 judicial offices in China. The results found that, after controlling for age, gender, educational background, marital status, and social support, perceived discrimination is positively correlated with social alienation; shame plays a partial positive mediating role in the relationship between perceived discrimination and social alienation. Additionally, Zhongyong thinking can moderate the direct effect of perceived discrimination on social alienation and the mediating effect of shame in a negative way. The results further empirically validated an integrated model of labeling theory.

Mind the Gap: How Zhongyong Thinking Affects the Effectiveness of Media Use on Pro-Environmental Behaviours in China

ABSTRACT This study proposes a moderated serial mediation model to examine the paths and conditions by which authoritative media use and social media use promote public and private pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). By employing the norm activation theory and through a nationwide survey in China, the study finds that both authoritative media use and social media use can indirectly contribute to both public and private PEBs first by increasing perceived environmental risk, and then by strengthening personal responsibility. In a parallel investigation of the role of traditional culture in influencing people’s behaviour, the study finds that Zhongyong thinking (the golden mean) can affect the effectiveness of authoritative media use and social media use on public and private PEBs. Zhongyong thinking notably enhanced the positive relationship between social media use and both types of PEBs but weakened the relationship between authoritative media use and these PEBs. The study contributes to the environmental engagement literature by confirming that different types of media use have different implications for PEBs, and Zhongyong thinking plays a vital role in the Chinese context.

A Study on the Cross-level Influence of Leaders’ Zhongyong Thinking on Employees’ Creative Deviance Behavior: Focusing on the Employees’ Organization-based Self-esteem and Superior-subordinate Guanxi

This study explores the intrinsic mechanisms that the influence of leaders' zhongyong thinking on employees' creative deviance behavior through a multi-level regression analysis method. 52 enterprises in Hebei, China, were used as the research target, and relevant data were collected through questionnaire survey. The empirical study shows that the leaders' zhongyong thinking has a significant positive influence on employees' creative deviance behavior, and employees' organization-based self-esteem plays a partly mediating role between the leaders' zhongyong thinking and employees' creative deviance behavior. Meanwhile, superior-subordinate guanxi positively moderates the influence of employees' organization-based self-esteem on creative deviance behavior, and further positively moderates the mediating role of employees' organization-based self-esteem. This study provides practical guidance implications for companies to get rid of innovation dilemma and achieve to creative development.

Zhongyong thinking (doctrine of the mean) and internet addiction: The mediation of maladaptive cognition and the moderation of subject.

Based on the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological internet use, this study explored the relationship between zhongyong thinking (doctrine of the mean) and internet addiction, and examined the mediation of maladaptive cognition and the moderation of subject. Convenience sampling was used to select 1,518 college students for the questionnaire. The participants were 15-26 years old (M = 19.77; SD = 1.45), including 776 male and 742 female students. The results showed that zhongyong thinking was significantly negatively correlated with maladaptive cognition (r = -0.19, p < 0.001) and internet addiction (r = -0.14, p < 0.001). Maladaptive cognition was significantly positively correlated with internet addiction (r = 0.46, p < 0.001). After controlling for age, gender, zhongyong thinking negatively predicted internet addiction (B = -0.06, p < 0.05), maladaptive cognition positively predicted Internet addiction (B = 0.45, p < 0.001). Zhongyong thinking negatively predicted maladaptive cognition (B = -0.19, p < 0.001). Moreover, the bias-corrected bootstrapping mediation test indicated that the process by which zhongyong thinking predicted Internet addiction through maladaptive cognition was significant, indirect effect = -0.08, SE = 0.01, 95% CI = [-0.11, -0.06]. Subject has no moderating effect on the relationship between zhongyong thinking and maladaptive cognition. The interaction between zhongyong thinking and subject was not a significant predictor of maladaptive cognition (B = 0.05, p > 0. 05). The present results suggest that zhongyong thinking as a traditional Chinese wisdom can still play an important role in regulating young people's behavior in the digital age.

The integrated effects of leader-member exchange social comparison on job performance and OCB in the Chinese context.

Although it has been long recognized that leader-member exchange social comparison (LMXSC) has critical implications for employee productivity, little attention has been given to systematically exploring the effects of LMXSC on employee performance in a specific cultural context. Integrating social exchange theory with social comparison theory, we examine a dual process model to explain how and when LMXSC affects employee performance outcomes in the Chinese context. Results based on multiphase, multisource data from China revealed that the mediating roles of employees' perceived obligation toward the leader and self-esteem are examined simultaneously in the relationship between LMXSC and job performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Additionally, guanxi strengthens the connection between LMXSC and perceived obligation, while Zhongyong thinking erodes the connection between LMXSC and self-esteem. Taken together, these findings enhance our understanding of LMXSC in China.

Understanding lurking behavior on enterprise social media: the perspective of the transactional model of stress

PurposeDrawing on the transactional model of stress, this study develops a theoretical model to understand the lurking behavior on enterprise social media (ESM).Design/methodology/approachBased on a questionnaire survey, this research study collected valid data from 301 ESM users in the workplace. Hierarchical regression analyses are used to analyze the conceptual framework.FindingsThe results show that Zhongyong thinking is a significant predictor of lurking and emotional exhaustion and that lurking can cause emotional exhaustion. Lurking mediates the relationship between Zhongyong thinking and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, communication overload moderates the relationship between lurking and emotional exhaustion as well as the indirect relationship between Zhongyong thinking and emotional exhaustion through lurking.Originality/valueThis article examines the antecedents of lurking by considering Zhongyong thinking and explores how lurking on ESM influences emotional exhaustion. This research contributes to the literature on techno-stressors, lurking and ESM and hopefully contributes to the growing dialog about the consequences of lurking in the workplace.

Factors associated with work volition among Chinese undergraduates.

Based on the psychology of working theory, this study tested the relationships among work volition and the predictors of economic constraints, minzu (ethnic identity), Hukou and Zhongyong thinking, and determined how Hukou and Zhongyong thinking moderate the relationship between economic constraints and work volition with a sample of 2,995 undergraduates in China. The results showed that work volition was negatively associated with economic constraints but positively related to Zhongyong thinking. The results further revealed that Hukou and Zhongyong thinking were significant moderators in the link between economic constraints and work volition, while weaker negative associations were found between economic constraints and work volition for undergraduates who came from rural areas and had lower levels of Zhongyong thinking. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

A meta-analysis of the relationship between Zhongyong thinking and creativity: Evidence from China

Although there is a large body of theoretical and empirical research supporting a relationship between Zhongyong thinking and creativity, some studies have found that the association is positive, while others have reported that it is negative. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of 18 relevant studies to further clarify this relationship. On the basis of 19 independent effect sizes, the results indicated there was a medium-strength, positive, and significant relationship between Zhongyong thinking and creativity. Moderator analyses suggested that this relationship was stronger in studies in which creativity was self-evaluated than in the studies in which others evaluated the individual's creativity. The moderating effect of the tools used to measure Zhongyong thinking and publication status were not significant.

Authentic leadership and employee voice behavior: the effect of Chinese employees' Zhongyong thinking

PurposeEmployee voice behavior is an important source of corporate competitiveness but employees often face difficulties in voicing their opinions. This research analyzes how authentic leadership may increase psychological safety perceived by employees, consequently encouraging employees to actively share their ideas. In addition, the authors explore the unique concept of Zhongyong thinking, a way of thinking that is common in cultures rooted in Confucianism. The authors analyze how Zhongyong thinking may affect the relationship between psychological safety and employee voice behavior.Design/methodology/approachFor the empirical analysis of authentic leadership and employee voice behavior in the Chinese context, the authors distributed surveys to employees working in various different industries in various provinces in China. The authors distributed 250 surveys in total and 213 surveys were used for analyses.FindingsThe authors' empirical analyzes illustrate that authentic leadership increases employee voice behavior, partially mediated by psychological safety. The authors also analyzed how psychological safety's effect on employee voice behavior could be moderated by Zhongyong thinking. The results demonstrate that the effect of psychological safety on voice behavior is weaker when employees are capable of exercising Zhongyong thinking.Originality/valueZhongyong thinking is still a relatively new concept that has not been studied thoroughly, and to the authors' knowledge, Zhongyong thinking has never been studied as a moderator in the relationship between psychological safety and employee voice behavior.

Leader–member exchange and employee voice: Zhongyong thinking as a mediator

Existing research has established a link between leader–member exchange (LMX) and employee voice. However, there is still a wide scope for exploring the mechanisms of this relationship. From the perspective of traditional Chinese values, we investigated the mediating role of Zhongyong thinking in the relationship between LMX and employee voice. We conducted a field survey with 252 employees of a state-owned organization in China. Results of structural equation modeling show there was a significant and positive relationship between LMX and employee voice. Additionally, Zhongyong thinking was an important mediating mechanism. This study indicates voice behavior can be fostered by establishing a high-quality LMX relationship and cultivating Zhongyong thinking among employees. Suggestions for future research are offered.

Zhongyong Thinking Style and Resilience Capacity in Chinese Undergraduates: The Chain Mediating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal and Positive Affect.

Previous studies have suggested that the Zhongyong thinking style (influenced by Chinese culture) is associated with psychological features. However, little is known about the direct association between Zhongyong thinking and resilience and the underlying mechanisms of this relationship in Chinese culture. The present study aimed to investigate the association between Zhongyong thinking and undergraduates’ resilience and to assess whether cognitive reappraisal and positive effects mediated this association. A sample of undergraduates (n = 1,356, 70.4% female, mean age = 19 years) was recruited for this study and the participants completed the Zhongyong Thinking Style Scale (ZYTS), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and the Resilience-11. Results indicated that the Zhongyong thinking style was positively and significantly associated with resilience. Undergraduates’ resilience was affected by Zhongyong thinking partly through 3 different pathways: the mediating role of cognitive reappraisal, the mediating role of positive effect, and the mediating chain role of both cognitive reappraisal and positive effect. These findings might provide a deeper understanding of the protective factors for resilience among Chinese undergraduates.