Why do people get so anxious about math? - Orly Rubinsten

翻译人员: Riley WANG 校对人员: Di SUN

When French mathematician Laurent Schwartz was in high school,

法国数学家洛朗·施瓦茨读高中时

he started to worry that he wasn't smart enough to solve math problems.

他开始担心自己不够聪明 算不出数学题

Maybe you know a similar feeling.

很可能你也有同感

当你坐下来开始进行数学考试

You sit down to take a math test,

and you feel your heart beat faster

会感觉到自己心跳加速

手心出汗

and your palms start to sweat.

胃里翻江倒海 难以集中注意力

You get butterflies in your stomach, and you can't concentrate.

This phenomenon is called math anxiety,

这种现象叫做数学焦虑症

and if it happens to you, you're not alone.

如果你也遇到过这种情况 你并不是例外

Researchers think about 20% of the population suffers from it.

研究者认为20%的人有数学焦虑症

Some psychologists even consider it a diagnosable condition.

一些心理学家甚至认为 这是一种可诊断的症状

But having mathematical anxiety doesn't necessarily mean you're bad at math -

但是有数学焦虑症 并不意味着你不擅长数学

二者甚至毫无关联

not even close.

Laurent Schwartz went on to win the Fields Medal,

洛朗·施瓦茨后来获得了菲尔茨奖

the highest award in mathematics.

这是数学领域的最高奖项

People might think that they're anxious about math because they're bad at it,

可能人们认为产生焦虑的原因是 他们不擅长数学

but it's often the other way around.

但事实上二者的关系恰好相反

They're doing poorly in math because they're anxious about it.

因为人们太过紧张 才会导致数学方面表现不佳

Some psychologists think that's because

一些心理学家认为

math anxiety decreases a cognitive resource

这是因为数学焦虑症 消耗了一种被称为

called working memory.

工作记忆的认知资源

That's the short-term memory system

工作记忆是短期记忆系统

that helps you organize the information you need to complete a task.

它能帮你组织用于完成任务的信息

Worrying about being able to solve math problems,

担心能否解出数学题

or not doing well on a test,

或能否很好地完成考试

eats up working memory,

都会消耗工作记忆

leaving less of it available to tackle the math itself.

而此时用于解答数学题的 工作记忆就会变少

人们可能会突然丧失 最基本的解题技能

People can suddenly struggle with even basic math skills,

like arithmetic, that they've otherwise mastered.

例如他们已经非常擅长的算术

Academic anxiety certainly isn't limited to math,

学术方面的焦虑不止体现在 数学这一个科目上

but it does seem to happen much more frequently,

但数学焦虑症似乎发生得更加频繁

and cause more harm in that subject.

并且在这个科目上 造成了更大的消极影响

So why would that be?

这究竟是为什么呢

Researchers aren't yet sure,

研究者们现在还不能确定

but some studies suggest

但一些研究表明

孩子通过家长和老师来 接触数学的方式

that the way children are exposed to math by their parents and teachers

play a large part.

在其中扮演着重要的角色

If parents talk about math like something challenging and unfamiliar,

如果家长们对数学问题 感到无所适从 难以驾驭

children can internalize that.

孩子们就会认同并接受这一观点

Teachers with math anxiety are also likely to spread it to their students.

有数学焦虑症的老师 也很可能会将其传染给学生们

Pressure to solve problems quickly dials up stress even more.

催促学生解题则会 加大学生的精神压力

And in some cultures, being good at math is a sign of being smart in general.

而在某些文化中擅长数学 被普遍认为是聪明的标志

When the stakes are that high,

当数学扮演着如此重要的角色

it's not surprising that students are anxious.

也难怪学生们会焦虑

Even Maryam Mirzakhani, an influential mathematician

连玛丽亚姆·米尔扎汉 这位享誉世界的数学家

who was the first woman to win the Fields Medal,

也是第一位赢得菲尔茨奖的女性

felt unconfident and lost interest in mathematics

也曾对数学失去了信心和兴趣

because her math teacher in middle school didn't think she was talented.

因为她中学时的数学老师 曾认为她并没有天赋

So if you experience mathematical anxiety,

所以如果你正经历数学焦虑症

what can you do?

要如何缓解呢

Relaxation techniques, like short breathing exercises,

一些放松的技巧 例如短时间的呼吸训练

have improved test performance in students with math anxiety.

可以缓解学生们在考试时的数学焦虑

Writing down your worries can also help.

写下你的担忧也会有所帮助

它能够使你重新审视充满压力的经历

This strategy may give you a chance to reevaluate a stressful experience,

freeing up working memory.

从而释放工作记忆

And if you have the chance,

如果有机会

physical activity, like a brisk walk, deepens breathing

体育活动如快步走 也可以促进深呼吸

and helps relieve muscle tension,

同时帮助缓解肌肉紧张

preventing anxiety from building.

从而防止焦虑产生

You can also use your knowledge about the brain

你也可以运用关于大脑的知识

to change your mindset.

去改变你的心态

The brain is flexible,

大脑是非常灵活的

and the areas involved in math skills can always grow and develop.

负责数学技能的区域 可以持续提高和发展

This is a psychological principle called the growth mindset.

这个心理学原理叫做成长心态

Thinking of yourself as someone who can grow and improve

认为自己是可以进步和提高的想法

can actually help you grow and improve.

可以切实地促进你成长和进步

If you're a teacher or parent of young children,

如果你是一名教师或为人父母

try being playful with math and focusing on the creative aspects.

试着轻松对待数学 并关注其创造性的方面

That can build the numerical skills

这可以培养学生的算数能力

that help students approach math with confidence later on.

使其在今后更有信心地面对数学问题

Importantly, you should give children the time and space

重要的是应该给孩子们时间和空间

to work through their answers.

让他们去寻找答案

And if you're an administrator,

如果你是一位管理者

make sure your teachers have the positive attitudes

你需要确保你的老师们面对数学

and mathematical confidence necessary

也有积极的态度和信心

to inspire confidence in all of their students.

继而才能激发他们学生的信心

Also, don't let anyone spread the myth

同时不要让任何人散播

that boys are innately better than girls at math.

男生天生比女生擅长数学这种说法

That is completely false.

这是完全错误的观念

If you experience math anxiety,

如果你经历了数学焦虑症

it may not help to just know that math anxiety exists.

了解它的存在并不一定能有所帮助

Or perhaps it's reassuring to put a name to the problem.

或者给这个问题起个名字 至少能减轻你的担忧

Regardless, if you take a look around yourself,

不管怎样 如果你观察周围的人

the odds are good that you'll see someone experiencing the same thing as you.

很可能你会发现其他人 也有数学焦虑症

Just remember that the anxiety is not a reflection of your ability,

切记焦虑并不能反映出你的能力

but it is something you can conquer with time and awareness.

但你可以用时间和意识克服焦虑