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

譯者: Yueh-Lun Huang 審譯者: 文琪 赵

When French mathematician Laurent Schwartz was in high school,

法國數學家洛朗·施瓦茨在高中時

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

擔心自己不夠聰明來解決數學的問題

Maybe you know a similar feeling.

也許你有類似的感覺

You sit down to take a math test,

你坐下來考數學

and you feel your heart beat faster

感到心跳加速

and your palms start to sweat.

手掌開始出汗

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

你的胃在翻騰，無法集中注意力

This phenomenon is called math anxiety,

這種現象被稱作數學焦慮症

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

如果它發生在你身上，你並不孤單

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

研究表明世界上 約有 20% 的人口有此症狀

Some psychologists even consider it a diagnosable condition.

部分的心理學家甚至認為

它是一種可被診斷出來的症狀

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

但患有數學焦慮症

不一定意味你的數學不好

not even close.

甚至還差遠了

Laurent Schwartz went on to win the Fields Medal,

洛朗·施瓦茨曾獲得菲爾茲獎

the highest award in mathematics.

數學家的最高榮譽

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

人們可能認為自己對數學焦慮

是由於他們的數學不好

but it's often the other way around.

但往往是倒果為因了

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

他們的數學表現差

是因為對它的焦慮

Some psychologists think that's because

一些心理學家認為數學焦慮症

math anxiety decreases a cognitive resource

降低了被稱作「工作記憶」的認知資源

called working memory.

That's the short-term memory system

這是短期記憶系統

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

幫助你組好完成任務所需的信息

Worrying about being able to solve math problems,

擔心自己不能解決數學問題

or not doing well on a test,

或考試考不好

eats up working memory,

都佔用你的工作記憶

leaving less of it available to tackle the math itself.

留下較少的資源來解決數學題目本身

People can suddenly struggle with even basic math skills,

人們可能會突然間 連基本的數學題都解決不了

like arithmetic, that they've otherwise mastered.

像是算數或其他已經掌握的技能

Academic anxiety certainly isn't limited to math,

學術焦慮當然不限於數學

but it does seem to happen much more frequently,

但它似乎更常發生於數學

and cause more harm in that subject.

並且在這個學科上表現得更差

So why would that be?

為什麼會這樣呢？

Researchers aren't yet sure,

研究人員還不確定

but some studies suggest

但有些研究顯示

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

孩子的父母或老師看待數學的態度

play a large part.

起了很大的作用

如果父母談起數學

If parents talk about math like something challenging and unfamiliar,

像談某種具挑戰且陌生的東西

children can internalize that.

孩子會將它內化在心中

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

有數學焦慮的老師也可能影響學生

Pressure to solve problems quickly dials up stress even more.

需要快速解決問題的壓力 更是會激化焦慮

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

在某些文化裡

擅長於數學普遍被認做是聰明的顯現

When the stakes are that high,

當利害關係如此重大時

it's not surprising that students are anxious.

學生會感到焦慮乃是在意料之中

Even Maryam Mirzakhani, an influential mathematician

甚至是瑪麗安·米爾札哈尼， 一個具影響力的數學家

who was the first woman to win the Fields Medal,

是第一位獲得菲爾茲獎的女士

felt unconfident and lost interest in mathematics

曾對數學失去信心和興趣

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

因為她的中學老師不認為她有才華

So if you experience mathematical anxiety,

所以，如果你經歷數學的焦慮

what can you do?

你能怎麼辦？

Relaxation techniques, like short breathing exercises,

放鬆的技巧，像是短呼吸練習

have improved test performance in students with math anxiety.

能改善數學焦慮的學生 在考試的表現

Writing down your worries can also help.

寫下你所擔心的事，也會有所改善

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

這策略可以讓你重新評估緊張的經歷

freeing up working memory.

釋出工作記憶

And if you have the chance,

如果你有機會活動身體， 像快走或深呼吸

physical activity, like a brisk walk, deepens breathing

and helps relieve muscle tension,

會有助於緩解肌肉緊張

preventing anxiety from building.

防止焦慮的堆積

You can also use your knowledge about the brain

你也可以運用你對腦的知識

to change your mindset.

改變你的心態

The brain is flexible,

大腦是靈活的

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

涉及數學的領域總能繼續成長和開發

This is a psychological principle called the growth mindset.

這是被稱為「成長型思維」的心理學原理

Thinking of yourself as someone who can grow and improve

認為自己能夠成長和改善

can actually help you grow and improve.

可以實際地幫助你成長和改善

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

如果你是小孩的老師或父母

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

嘗試將數學看成好玩的， 著重於創意方面

That can build the numerical skills

這可以幫助學生建立起數字能力

that help students approach math with confidence later on.

有助於日後保持信心接近數學

Importantly, you should give children the time and space

重要的是，你應該給孩子時間和空間

to work through their answers.

來得出他們的答案

And if you're an administrator,

如果你管行政

make sure your teachers have the positive attitudes

確保你的老師們有正面的態度

and mathematical confidence necessary

和足夠的數學信心

to inspire confidence in all of their students.

來激發所有學生的自信

Also, don't let anyone spread the myth

另外，別再讓人傳播這種說法：

that boys are innately better than girls at math.

男孩的數學天生比女孩好

That is completely false.

這是完全錯誤的

If you experience math anxiety,

如果你經歷數學焦慮

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

只是知道它的存在可能幫不了你

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

或許，給此問題一個名字會令人心安

Regardless, if you take a look around yourself,

無論如何，如果你看看自己的周遭

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

很可能會看見別人

跟你經歷相同的事情

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

只要記得，焦慮不能反映你的能力

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

而你能用時間和意識來克服它