Psychological science is entering an era in which artificial systems participate in relational and emotional life. Yet most therapeutic AI and mental health technologies remain limited to skill-based training—teaching users to recognize emotions, regulate cognition, or perform social scripts—while neglecting the developmental foundations of authentic relatedness. Building on Hedges’ (1983, 2000) four developmental listening perspectives—organizing, symbiotic, self–other, and independence experiences—this article p…

Digital technologies are no longer mere tools but potential partners in human relational life. Current debates about human–AI bonds often oscillate between two extremes: dismissing them as addictive pathologies or romanticizing them as harmless companionship. Neither captures the complexity of what is emerging. We propose the construct of Digital Attachment, defined as a sustained and emotionally invested bond between a human user and a responsive—or perceived as responsive—digital entity. Distinct from parasocial…

Background Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common and acute mental health issue among hospitalised adolescents. Although prior research has highlighted the roles of both impulsivity and emotion regulation in self-injurious behaviours, the specific mediating role of the emotion regulation motive in the relationship between motor impulsivity and NSSI frequency remains insufficiently understood. Methods 206 adolescents with a history of NSSI were recruited from the Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo Universit…

This article introduces the digital containment system (DCS), a theoretical framework for understanding how intimacy is reorganized in datafied societies. Extending Bion’s notion of containment, the DCS comprises three interdependent layers: AI-based interactions that provide simulated empathy and co-regulation; social media publics that aggregate and validate affect; and algorithmic infrastructures that learn and normalize emotional patterns through feedback loops. Centering women’s experiences, the essay argues …

Objective A quantitative synthesis of online psychotherapies' effectiveness in managing COVID-19 related distress is lacking. This study aimed to estimate online psychological interventions' effectiveness and associated factors on COVID-19 related psychological distress. Methods Multi-databases including PubMed, EBSCO, ProQuest, and Cochrane were searched repeatedly till the end of June 2022. Hand-picking was also utilized for relevant papers. Depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of sleep were evaluated as out…