Helping others makes us happier -- but it matters how we do it | Elizabeth Dunn

譯者: Bruce Sung 審譯者: Marssi Draw

So, I have a pretty fun job,

我有個相當好玩的工作，

which is to figure out what makes people happy.

就是要找出讓人快樂的原因。

It's so fun, it might almost seen a little frivolous,

這件事有趣到 幾乎看起來有點不太正經，

especially at a time where we're being confronted

尤其是在我們面臨

with some pretty depressing headlines.

令人沮喪的頭條新聞的時候。

But it turns out that studying happiness might provide a key

然而對快樂的研究，

可能會提供解決棘手問題的關鍵。

to solving some of the toughest problems we're facing.

It's taken me almost a decade to figure this out.

我花了近十年才搞清楚。

Pretty early on in my career,

在我職業生涯的初期，

I published a paper in "Science" with my collaborators,

我和研究夥伴在《科學雜誌》發表

entitled, "Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness."

題為《為別人花錢讓你更快樂》一文。

I was very confident in this conclusion,

我對這個結論非常有信心，

except for one thing:

但有個例外：

it didn't seem to apply to me.

它似乎不適用於我。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I hardly ever gave money to charity,

我很少捐錢給慈善機構，

and when I did,

當我捐的時候，

I didn't feel that warm glow I was expecting.

卻沒有我所期待的心頭暖暖的感覺。

So I started to wonder if maybe there was something wrong with my research

於是我開始懷疑是否 我的研究有什麼問題，

or something wrong with me.

或者我有什麼問題。

My own lackluster emotional response to giving was especially puzzling

我對助人的無感特別令人費解，

because my follow-up studies revealed that even toddlers exhibited joy

因為我接下來的研究顯示，

即使是幼兒助人也會展露出喜悅。

from giving to others.

In one experiment, my colleagues Kiley Hamlin, Lara Aknin and I

在一項實驗中， 我和兩位同事凱莉、拉拉

brought kids just under the age of two into the lab.

實驗的對象是快兩歲的孩童。

Now, as you might imagine,

正如你所想，

we had to work with a resource that toddlers really care about,

我們必須用那個年齡的幼兒 真正關心的東西來做實驗，

so we used the toddler equivalent of gold,

所以我們採用對幼兒相當於黃金的

namely, Goldfish crackers.

金魚餅乾。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

We gave kids this windfall of Goldfish for themselves

我們發給小孩這筆 金魚餅乾的意外之財，

and a chance to give some of their Goldfish away

並讓他們有機會和一隻

to a puppet named Monkey.

名為「猴子」的木偶分享。

(Video) Researcher: I found even more treats,

（影片）研究員：我找到了更多好吃的，

and I'm going to give them all to you.

全都給你。

Toddler: Ooh. Thank you.

幼兒：哦。謝謝。

Researcher: But, you know, I don't see any more treats.

研究員：但是，好吃的都沒了。

Will you give one to Monkey?

你能不能給猴子一個？

Toddler: Yeah. Researcher: Yeah?

幼兒：好。 研究員：好嗎？

Toddler: Yeah.

幼兒：好。

Here.

這裡。

Researcher: Ooh, yummy. Mmmm.

研究員：哦，好吃。嗯。

Toddler: All gone, he ate it.

幼兒：都沒了，他吃掉了。

Elizabeth Dunn: Now, we trained research assistants to watch these videos

伊麗莎白．鄧恩（ED）： 我們訓練研究助理來觀看這些影片，

and code toddlers' emotional reactions.

並解讀幼兒的情緒反應。

Of course, we didn't tell them our hypotheses.

當然，我們沒有 告訴他們我們的假設。

The data revealed that toddlers were pretty happy

這些數據表明，當幼兒

得到這堆金魚餅乾，他們非常高興，

when they got this pile of Goldfish for themselves,

but they were actually even happier

但在給掉一些金魚餅乾之後，

when they got to give some of their Goldfish away.

他們實際上更快樂。

And this warm glow of giving persists into adulthood.

而且這個給予的溫暖感受 會持續到成年之後。

When we analyzed surveys from more than 200,000 adults

當我們分析針對全球

20 多萬名成年人所做的調查，

across the globe,

we saw that nearly a third of the world's population

我們看到世界上有將近三分之一的人

reported giving at least some money to charity in the past month.

在過去一個月內曾捐錢給慈善機構。

Remarkably, in every major region of the world,

值得注意的是，在世界各主要地區，

people who gave money to charity were happier than those who did not,

即使將個人財務狀況考慮進去，

有捐錢給慈善機構的人 比沒捐的人快樂。

even after taking into account their own personal financial situation.

And this correlation wasn't trivial.

而且這種相關性很強。

It looked like giving to charity

看來捐錢給慈善機構

made about the same difference for happiness

帶來的快樂，

as having twice as much income.

相當於收入加倍時帶來的快樂。

Now, as a researcher,

現在，作為一個研究人員，

if you're lucky enough to stumble on an effect

如果你碰到這個效應

that replicates around the world in children and adults alike,

是放諸四海、大人小孩皆準，

you start to wonder:

你就會想：

Could this be part of human nature?

難道這是人的本性？

We know that pleasure reinforces adaptive behaviors

我們知道，快樂會強化 有助於適應的行為，

like eating and sex

像是食與色

that help perpetuate our species,

有助於延續我們的物種，

and it looked to me like giving might be one of those behaviors.

在我看來施捨也許 也是那些行為之一。

I was really excited about these ideas,

這想法很讓我雀躍，

and I wrote about them in the "New York Times."

於是我投稿給《紐約時報》。

One of the people who read this article

看過這篇文章的人，

was my accountant.

包括我的會計師。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

是啊。

Yeah.

At tax time, I found myself seated across from him,

在報稅時，我坐在他面前，

watching as he slowly tapped his pen

看他拿著筆慢慢地點著

on the charitable giving line of my tax return

我稅表上慈善捐贈那一欄，

with this look of, like,

臉上掛著像是

poorly concealed disapproval.

藏不住的不滿意。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Despite building my career by showing how great giving can feel,

儘管我的事業是建立於研究 施捨能讓你感覺多好之上，

I actually wasn't doing very much of it.

我自己其實沒怎麼捐獻。

So I resolved to give more.

所以，我下定決心要多給一些。

Around that time,

在那段時間，

devastating stories about the Syrian refugee crisis

關於敘利亞難民危機的悲慘故事

were everywhere.

到處都是。

I really wanted to help,

我真的想幫助，

so I pulled out my credit card.

於是我拿出我的信用卡。

I knew my donations would probably make a difference for someone somewhere,

我知道我的捐款可能會 幫到某地方的某個人，

but going to the website of an effective charity

但光是上了一家好的慈善機構的網站

and entering my Visa number

去輸入我的信用卡號，

still just didn't feel like enough.

我總覺得還是不夠。

That's when I learned about the Group of Five.

這時候，我聽說了「五人組」。

The Canadian government allows any five Canadians

加拿大政府允許任何五個加拿大人

to privately sponsor a family of refugees.

以私人力量資助一個難民家庭。

You have to raise enough money to support the family

你必須籌集足夠資金來支持那個家庭

for their first year in Canada,

在加拿大第一年的生活，

and then they literally get on a plane to your city.

然後他們便可以上飛機 飛到你住的城市。

One of the things that I think is so cool about this program

我覺得他們的做法中最酷的一點

is that no one is allowed to do it alone.

是不允許有人去單獨去承擔。

And instead of a Group of Five,

結果我們最後不是五人組，

we ended up partnering with a community organization

而是和一個社區組織合作

and forming a group of 25.

組成了一個 25 人組。

After almost two years of paperwork and waiting,

經過近兩年的手續和等待，

we learned that our family would be arriving in Vancouver

我們接到通知：我們的家庭

不到六個星期之後將抵達溫哥華。

in less than six weeks.

They had four sons and a daughter,

他們有四個兒子和一個女兒，

so we raced to find them a place to live.

於是我們快馬加鞭去為他們找住所。

We were very lucky to find them a house,

很幸運我們幫他們找到一棟房子，

but it needed quite a bit of work.

但要整修不少地方。

So my friends came out on evenings and weekends

所以，我的朋友在晚上和週末出來

and painted and cleaned and assembled furniture.

幫忙油漆、清洗和組裝家具。

When the big day came,

當那一天到來，

we filled their fridge with milk and fresh fruit

我們在冰箱裝滿牛奶和新鮮水果，

and headed to the airport to meet our family.

然後去機場迎接我們的家庭。

It was a little overwhelming for everyone,

那場面讓每個人都有點難以承受，

especially the four-year-old.

尤其是那四歲的兒子。

His mother was reunited with her sister

他的母親得以與她的妹妹團聚，

who had come to Canada earlier through the same program.

而她妹妹也是早些時候透過 相同的程序來到加拿大。

They hadn't seen each other in 15 years.

他們已經 15 年沒見面。

When you hear that more than 5.6 million refugees have fled Syria,

當你聽到有超過 560 萬 難民逃離敘利亞，

you're faced with this tragedy

你面對這樣的悲劇

that the human brain hasn't really evolved to comprehend.

而人類大腦並沒有 真正進化到能理解。

It's so abstract.

它是如此地抽象。

Before, if any of us had been asked to donate 15 hours a month

在這之前，如果要我們之中的 任何一人每個月奉獻 15 小時

to help out with the refugee crisis,

去幫助難民危機，

we probably would have said no.

我們可能會拒絕。

But as soon as we took our family to their new home in Vancouver,

但帶了我們的家庭到 他們溫哥華的新家之後，

we all had the same realization:

我們都有了一致的認知：

we were just going to do whatever it took to help them be happy.

我們將要盡一切可能， 幫助他們快樂。

This experience made me think a little more deeply about my research.

這一經歷使我更深入地 思考我的研究。

Back in my lab,

在我的實驗室，

we'd seen the benefits of giving spike

我們會看到給予的好處上揚，

when people felt a real sense of connection with those they were helping

只要人們覺得與受他們幫助的 人之間建立了真的聯繫，

and could easily envision the difference they were making

並可以輕易想像他們真的

in those individuals' lives.

在這些人的生活中幫上了忙。

For example, in one experiment,

例如，在一個實驗中，

we gave participants an opportunity to donate a bit of money

我們給參與者有機會捐一點錢

to either UNICEF or Spread the Net.

給「聯合國兒童基金會」 或「廣發蚊帳」兩者之一。

We chose these charities intentionally,

我們故意選擇這兩個慈善機構，

because they were partners and shared the same critically important goal

因為他們是合作夥伴， 有著相同的重要目標，

of promoting children's health.

就是促進兒童健康。

But I think UNICEF is just such a big, broad charity

但我認為，「聯合國兒童基金會」 是個大而廣泛的慈善事業，

that it can be a little hard to envision

會讓你難以想像

how your own small donation will make a difference.

自己的小小捐贈能有多大作為。

In contrast, Spread the Net offers donors a concrete promise:

相比之下，「廣發蚊帳」 給了捐助者具體的承諾：

for every 10 dollars donated,

每捐贈 10 元，

they provide one bed net to protect a child from malaria.

他們就提供一頂蚊帳 來保護兒童遠離瘧疾。

We saw that the more money people gave to Spread the Net,

我們看到他們捐給 「廣發蚊帳」更多錢，

the happier they reported feeling afterward.

就自覺更快樂。

In contrast, this emotional return on investment

相形之下，當人們捐錢給 「聯合國兒童基金會」，

was completely eliminated when people gave money to UNICEF.

便感受不到這種情感回報。

So this suggests that just giving money to a worthwhile charity

這表明，僅僅捐錢給好的慈善機構

isn't always enough.

並不一定夠。

You need to be able to envision

你需要能夠預見

how, exactly, your dollars are going to make a difference.

你的錢會如何發揮功效。

Of course, the Group of Five program takes this idea to a whole new level.

當然，「五人組」又將這想法 帶上一個全新的高度。

When we first took on this project,

當我們開始做這個計畫，

we would talk about when the refugees would arrive.

我們會談論「難民們」何時將到達。

Now, we just refer to them as our family.

現在，我們只稱他們為 「我們的家庭」。

Recently, we took the kids ice skating,

近日，我們帶著孩子們溜冰，

and later that day, my six-year-old, Oliver, asked me,

而當天晚些時候， 我六歲的兒子奧利弗問我，

"Mommy, who is the oldest kid in our family?"

「媽媽，誰是我們家最大的孩子？」

I assumed he was talking about his plethora of cousins,

他的堂表兄弟姊妹眾多，

and he was talking about them,

我以為他問的就是他們，

but also about our Syrian family.

而他也包括了我們的敘利亞家庭。

Since our family arrived,

在我們的家庭來了之後，

so many people and organizations have offered to help,

有好多人和組織提供幫助，

providing everything from free dental fillings

免費提供一切，從補牙

to summer camps.

到夏令營。

It's made me see the goodness that exists in our community.

這件事讓我看到了我們社區中的良善。

Thanks to one donation,

多虧了一個捐助，

the kids got to go to bike camp,

孩子們得以去自行車訓練營，

and every day of the week,

而且那週的每一天，

some member of our group tried to be there to cheer for them.

我們組都有人去為他們加油。

I happened to be there

我去的那天碰巧是

the day the training wheels were supposed to come off,

孩子要拆下訓練輪子，開始騎兩輪，

and let me tell you, the four-year-old did not think this was a good idea.

而那四歲小孩就是不幹。

So I went over and talked to him

於是我走過去與他談

about the long-term benefits of riding without training wheels.

關於騎兩輪的長遠利益。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Then I remembered that he was four and barely spoke English.

然後我想起他只有四歲， 才勉強能講點英語。

So I reverted to two words he definitely knew:

所以我不講大道理了， 只回歸到他肯定懂的幾個字：

ice cream.

冰淇淋。

You try without training wheels, I'll buy you ice cream.

你試試不要訓練輪子， 我就給你買冰淇淋。

Here's what happened next.

接下來發生的是這樣。

(Video) ED: Yes. Yeah!

（影片）ED：好。很好！

Kid: I'm gonna try.

孩子：我試看看。

ED: Oh my God! Look at you go!

ED：噢，我的天！看看你騎的！

(Squealing) Look at you go! You're doing it all by yourself!

（尖叫）看看你騎的！ 你自己會騎了！

(Audience) (Laughter)

（觀眾）（笑聲）

(Video) ED: Good job!

（影片）ED：幹得好！

(Audience) (Laughter)

（觀眾）（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

ED: So this is the kind of helping that human beings evolved to enjoy,

ED：所以這是一種人類已經 進化到可以享受的助人行為，

but for 40 years,

但有 40 年之久，

Canada was the only country in the world

加拿大是世界上唯一

that allowed private citizens to sponsor refugees.

允許公民私人贊助難民的國家。

Now -- Canada!

現在 —— 加拿大！

(Applause)

（掌聲）

It's pretty great.

這是非常偉大的。

Now Australia and the UK are starting up similar programs.

現在，澳洲和英國 也開始了類似的做法。

Just imagine how different the refugee crisis could look

試想難民危機會有多不一樣，

if more countries made this possible.

如果有更多的國家也這麼做。

Creating these kinds of meaningful connections between individuals

在個體間創建這種有意義的連接

provides an opportunity to deal with challenges

提供了應對高難度挑戰的機會。

that feel overwhelming.

One of those challenges lies just blocks from where I'm standing right now,

其中的一個挑戰，離我現在 站的這裡只有幾個街區，

in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

在溫哥華市中心東區。

By some measures, it's the poorest urban postal code in Canada.

以某些方面衡量，這是加拿大 最貧窮的城市郵政區號。

We actually debated whether to bring over a family of refugees,

實際上，我們曾經為了是否將 一個難民家庭搬進那區而辯論，

because there are so many people right here already struggling.

因為這裡已經有這麼多人在掙扎求生。

My friend Evan told me that when he was a kid

我的朋友埃文告訴我，他小的時候

and his parents drove through this neighborhood,

和他的父母開車經過這附近，

he would duck down in the back seat.

他都會彎下身躲在後座。

But Evan's parents never would have guessed

但埃文的父母從來也猜不到

that when he grew up,

當他長大後，

he would open up the doors of a local restaurant

他會讓當地的餐館敞開門

and invite this community inside to enjoy three-course dinners.

邀請社區居民去享用全套晚餐。

The program that Evan helped build is called "Plenty of Plates,"

埃文幫助建立的計劃叫「盤多多」，

and the goal is not just to provide free meals

其目標不僅是提供免費餐食，

but to create moments of connection

也要讓那些平時目光不會相對的人

between people who otherwise might never make eye contact.

可以有機會交流。

Each night, a local business sponsors the dinner

每天晚上，一家當地企業贊助晚宴

and sends a team of volunteers

並派一批志工

who help make and serve the meal.

去幫忙做菜和服務。

Afterward, the leftovers get distributed to people who are out on the street,

餐後將剩菜分給街友，

and importantly, there's enough money left

更重要的是，在這之後 都還有足夠的餘錢

to provide a thousand free lunches for this community

可以在其後數天為社區 提供一千份免費午餐。

in the days that follow.

But the benefits of this program extend beyond food.

但這個計劃提供的好處不只是食物。

For the volunteers, it provides an opportunity to engage with people,

對於志工而言，它提供了 一個與人接觸的機會，

to sit down and hear their stories.

能坐下來聽他們的故事。

After this experience, one volunteer changed his commute

有了這個經驗，一名志工 改變了他的上下班路徑，

so that instead of avoiding this neighborhood,

不再迴避這附近，

he walks through it,

而是走過它，

smiling or making eye contact as he passes familiar faces.

對途中的熟悉面孔微笑或四目接觸。

All of us are capable of finding joy in giving.

所有的人都能夠在給予中找到快樂。

But we shouldn't expect this to happen automatically.

但是，我們不應該指望這會自動發生。

Spending money helping others doesn't necessarily promote happiness.

花錢助人並不一定 讓我們覺得更快樂。

Instead, it matters how we do it.

而是要看我們所做的方式。

And if we want people to give more,

如果我們希望人們給更多一點，

we need to subvert the way we think about charitable giving.

我們需要顛覆對 慈善捐贈的思考方式。

We need to create opportunities to give

我們要創造機會讓人在捐助的時候

that enable us to appreciate our shared humanity.

能體會到我們共同的人性。

If any of you work for a charity,

如果你們是在慈善機構工作，

don't reward your donors with pens or calendars.

不要用筆或月曆那種贈品 去獎勵您的捐助者。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Reward them with the opportunity

獎勵的方式，是讓他們有機會

to see the specific impact that their generosity is having

看到他們的慷慨所造成的具體影響，

and to connect with the individuals and communities they're helping.

並將他們與受幫助的 個人及社區間連結起來。

We're used to thinking about giving as something we should do.

我們習慣於將給予 視為我們應該做的事。

And it is.

那是沒錯。

But in thinking about it this way,

但如果光那樣想，

we're missing out on one of the best parts of being human:

我們就錯失了作為人 最大的好處之一：

that we have evolved to find joy in helping others.

我們已經進化到可以 經由助人來找到快樂。

Let's stop thinking about giving as just this moral obligation

我們不要再把助人僅僅視為道德義務

and start thinking of it as a source of pleasure.

而是要開始將它看作快樂的源泉。

Thank you.

謝謝。

（掌聲）

(Applause)