世界上是否存在幸福方程?心理學(xué)家研究發(fā)現(xiàn),一些基本“參數(shù)”會幫助我們更好地理解幸福感,并指導(dǎo)我們更好地得到快樂。


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I've been hearing a lot about positive psychology, the study of happiness and how to achieve it. Is there any consensus among scientists on the best ways to be happy? Well, no, not exactly. There's no one, sure fire key to happiness. Happiness comes in many forms and shades of gray. But psychologists have discovered some basic parameters to help us understand happiness and how to have more of it. For example, it's well known that extroverts tend to be happier than introverts. In other words, people who are outgoing and energetic are generally happier than people who are neurotic and self-absorbed. Which seems to make sense. But what's really interesting, according to one study, is how and why extroverts are happier than introverts. It has to do with what psychologists call "time perspective," that is, how people perceive the past, present, and future. The important finding is that happy people tend to see the past in positive terms, while people who are less happy are more likely to view the past regretfully and fret about past decisions. So the idea is that putting a positive spin on the past is one key to happiness. Not everyone is naturally inclined to see the past through rose-colored glasses. But the good news is that you can train yourself to frame the past in a positive light, or at least try. Doing so may help you be happier in the present, and be more optimistic about the future.
我聽說過很多關(guān)于積極心理學(xué)的幸福感研究,也告訴我們?nèi)绾尾拍軐崿F(xiàn)快樂。那么是否存在科學(xué)家們公認(rèn)的得到快樂的最好方法呢? 哦,不,不完全是。世界上沒有能確保獲得幸福的靈丹妙藥,快樂存在于許多形式和梯度。但是心理學(xué)家們已經(jīng)研究發(fā)現(xiàn),一些基本“參數(shù)”會幫助我們更好地理解幸福感,并指導(dǎo)我們更好地得到快樂。 例如,眾所周知,性格外向的人通常會比性格內(nèi)向的人更快樂。換句話說,外向而精力充沛的人往往比那些神經(jīng)焦慮或自我封閉的人更容易感到幸福。 這聽起來很有道理,但某項研究已進一步找到以上規(guī)律的原因。 這與心理學(xué)所稱的術(shù)語“時間洞察力”(time perspective)有關(guān),意即:人們?nèi)绾慰创^去、現(xiàn)在和未來。 一個重要發(fā)現(xiàn)就是,幸福的人往往傾向用積極的態(tài)度看待過去,而不快樂的人更容易糾結(jié)于過去的遺憾或苦惱中。 因此,把過去的回憶放入一個良性循環(huán)是抵達幸福的關(guān)鍵。畢竟不是每個人都天生傾向于透過“玫瑰色眼鏡”看待過去。但值得慶幸的是,你可以訓(xùn)練自己,或者至少嘗試用光明來裝飾回憶,用積極樂觀的心態(tài)審視過去。這樣做可能會幫助你現(xiàn)在得到快樂,并對未來更加樂觀。 【小異注釋】 1. psychology 心理學(xué),psychologist 心理學(xué)家,psychological 心理學(xué)的 2. consensus (among sb about sth/that) 共識,一致的意見 3. sure fire 口語中加強sure的語氣 4. shade of gray 灰度,梯度 5. parameter 因素,參數(shù) 6. extrovert 外向的人,introvert 內(nèi)向的人 7. fret about sth 為??而煩惱 8. see the past through rose-colored glasses 透過“玫瑰色眼鏡”看待過去,英語中對樂觀的常用比喻用法