Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality | Brian Little | TED

譯者: 易帆 余 審譯者: Jin Wu

What an intriguing group of individuals you are ...

對一個心理學家而言......

你們真的是一群有趣的研究對象啊！

to a psychologist.

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I've had the opportunity over the last couple of days

這幾天，我很榮幸有這個機會，

of listening in on some of your conversations

聆聽在座一些人的對話，

and watching you interact with each other.

以及觀察你們彼此間的交流。

And I think it's fair to say, already,

我想應該已經可以這麼說，

that there are 47 people in this audience,

觀眾席裡面將近有 47 個人，

at this moment,

此時此刻，

displaying psychological symptoms I would like to discuss today.

展現出來的心理病徵與 我今天要探討的主題有關。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And I thought you might like to know who you are.

我想各位都很想知道， 是哪幾個人，

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But instead of pointing at you,

但不是要對你指指點點，

which would be gratuitous and intrusive,

這樣沒必要也很唐突，

I thought I would tell you a few facts and stories,

我想我可以告訴你一些事實與故事，

in which you may catch a glimpse of yourself.

而你在其中可能會窺見自己的身影。

I'm in the field of research known as personality psychology,

我研究的領域是人格心理學，

which is part of a larger personality science

它屬於人性科學的範疇，

which spans the full spectrum, from neurons to narratives.

而人性科學的研究領域誇度很大， 從神經元到敘述學。

And what we try to do,

而我們嘗試達成的，

in our own way,

是用我們的方式，

is to make sense of how each of us --

來弄清楚，為什麼我們每一個人——

each of you --

你們每一個人——

is, in certain respects,

在某些方面，

like all other people,

跟多數人相同的地方、

like some other people

跟少數人相同的地方、

and like no other person.

跟其他人完全不同的地方。

Now, already you may be saying of yourself,

你們可能有些人會說，

"I'm not intriguing.

「我一點也不有趣，

I am the 46th most boring person in the Western Hemisphere."

我是西半球排名 第 46 位最無聊的人。」

Or you may say of yourself,

或者你會說，

"I am intriguing,

「我很有趣，

even if I am regarded by most people as a great, thundering twit."

即使很多人認為我是個大白癡。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But it is your self-diagnosed boringness and your inherent "twitiness"

但就是你的自我認知， 無論是無聊或者與生俱來的白癡

that makes me, as a psychologist, really fascinated by you.

讓我這個心理學家， 對你特別著迷。

So let me explain why this is so.

讓我解釋這是怎麼回事。

One of the most influential approaches in personality science

在個性科學中 最具有影響力的分類方法

is known as trait psychology,

就是特質心理學。

and it aligns you along five dimensions which are normally distributed,

它把人分成五種面向， 通常是常態分配，

and that describe universally held aspects of difference between people.

它描述了人與人之間 彼此特質上的差異。

They spell out the acronym OCEAN.

它們有一個縮寫的簡稱叫做「OCEAN」。

So, "O" stands for "open to experience,"

「O」代表「開放的、喜歡經歷」特質

versus those who are more closed.

另一面就是「較保守封閉的」，

"C" stands for "conscientiousness,"

「C」代表「自覺型的」，

in contrast to those with a more lackadaisical approach to life.

相反的就是較為「渾渾噩噩的」。

"E" -- "extroversion," in contrast to more introverted people.

「E」代表「外向型的」， 與「內向型的」人相反。

"A" -- "agreeable individuals,"

「A」代表「和藹可親、隨和的」，

in contrast to those decidedly not agreeable.

對立的就是「不隨和的」

And "N" -- "neurotic individuals,"

最後「N」代表「神經質的、敏感的」，

in contrast to those who are more stable.

相反的就是比較「平和、穩定的」

All of these dimensions have implications for our well-being,

這五個面向， 影響著我們的幸福

for how our life goes.

及我們的人生方向。

And so we know that, for example,

眾所周知，

openness and conscientiousness are very good predictors of life success,

開放及負責任的人 往往意味著成功，

but the open people achieve that success through being audacious

但個性開放的人在通往成功路上 會變得大膽、

and, occasionally, odd.

有時甚至古怪。

The conscientious people achieve it through sticking to deadlines,

自覺型的人會緊守 最後期限，獲得成功，

to persevering, as well as having some passion.

他們堅持不懈且充滿熱情。

Extroversion and agreeableness are both conducive

外向及隨和的個性，兩者都有助於

to working well with people.

與他人融洽地工作。

Extroverts, for example, I find intriguing.

比如，外向的人， 我就覺得很有趣。

With my classes, I sometimes give them a basic fact

在課堂上，我有時候會 告訴他們一些基本事實，

that might be revealing with respect to their personality:

也許可以幫助他們判斷自己的個性。

I tell them that it is virtually impossible for adults

我告訴他們，成年人幾乎不可能

to lick the outside of their own elbow.

可以舔到自己手肘的外側。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Did you know that?

你們知道嗎？

Already, some of you have tried to lick the outside of your own elbow.

你看，你們有些人已經開始 在舔自己的手肘外側了。

But extroverts amongst you

但你們之中外向的人，

are probably those who have not only tried,

可能不僅會嘗試，

but they have successfully licked the elbow

他們還會

of the person sitting next to them.

把隔壁的手肘也舔了。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Those are the extroverts.

這就是外向的人。

Let me deal in a bit more detail with extroversion,

讓我再多談談 外向性格的一些細節，

because it's consequential and it's intriguing,

因為很重要，也很有趣，

and it helps us understand what I call our three natures.

它可以幫助我們了解， 「人類的三種天性」，

First, our biogenic nature -- our neurophysiology.

第一種，我們的生物學天性—— 我們的神經心理學。

Second, our sociogenic or second nature,

第二種，社會學天性，又叫第二天性

which has to do with the cultural and social aspects of our lives.

與我們生活的文化和社會面貌有關。

And third, what makes you individually you -- idiosyncratic --

第三種，塑造出獨特你的 ——怪癖——

what I call your "idiogenic" nature.

我稱之為「獨特的天性」。

Let me explain.

讓我解釋一下，

One of the things that characterizes extroverts is they need stimulation.

外向個性的人的一大特徵 就是他們需要刺激。

And that stimulation can be achieved by finding things that are exciting:

這些刺激可以透過 尋找令人興奮的事來找到：

loud noises, parties and social events here at TED --

比如巨大的噪音、派對、 或像 TED 這樣的社交場合——

you see the extroverts forming a magnetic core.

你會看到外向的人，像是個大磁鐵，

They all gather together.

他們會聚在一起。

And I've seen you.

我也有觀察到，

The introverts are more likely to spend time in the quiet spaces

個性內向的人通常比較喜歡

up on the second floor,

躲在二樓安靜的地方，

where they are able to reduce stimulation --

這樣他們可以減少刺激。

and may be misconstrued as being antisocial,

甚至有可能被歸類為 不喜歡社交的人，

but you're not necessarily antisocial.

但你不一定是不喜歡社交。

It may be that you simply realize that you do better

你只是單純地想找個 比較沒有那麼多刺激的地方靜靜，

when you have a chance to lower that level of stimulation.

感覺這樣對你自己比較好而已。

Sometimes it's an internal stimulant, from your body.

有時候，是從你體內 產生出來的刺激物，

Caffeine, for example, works much better with extroverts than it does introverts.

比如，咖啡因，它對外向的人的刺激 比內向的人更有效果。

When extroverts come into the office at nine o'clock in the morning

當外向的人早上九點一到辦公室，

and say, "I really need a cup of coffee,"

說，「我真的需要一杯咖啡」，

they're not kidding --

他們不是在開玩笑——

they really do.

他們是真的需要。

Introverts do not do as well,

內向的人就沒有那麼明顯，

particularly if the tasks they're engaged in --

特別是當他們

and they've had some coffee --

也喝了一些咖啡，

if those tasks are speeded,

參與到快節奏、

and if they're quantitative,

需要高產量的任務時

introverts may give the appearance of not being particularly quantitative.

內向人的表現似乎沒有那麼的好，

But it's a misconstrual.

但這是誤解。

So here are the consequences that are really quite intriguing:

這裡有一份（研究）結果，相當有趣：

we're not always what seem to be,

我們和我們表現出來的樣子不一定相同，

and that takes me to my next point.

這會帶到下一個我要講的重點。

I should say, before getting to this,

在講這個重點前，我必須說說，

something about sexual intercourse,

有關做愛這檔事，

although I may not have time.

雖然時間可能會不夠，

And so, if you would like me to --

所以，各位如果想聽我說——

yes, you would?

想？你們想聽？

OK.

(Laughter)

好。

（笑聲）

There are studies done

這項研究是把

on the frequency with which individuals engage in the conjugal act,

男生、女生、內向、外向的人做分類，

as broken down by male, female; introvert, extrovert.

調查每個人的做愛頻率；

So I ask you:

我問各位：

How many times per minute --

你每分鐘可以做幾次——

oh, I'm sorry, that was a rat study --

喔，對不起，那是有關老鼠的研究——

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

How many times per month

內向的男人每個月平均

do introverted men engage in the act?

可以做幾次愛？

3.0.

3.0 次

Extroverted men?

外向的男人呢？

More or less?

更多，還是更少？

Yes, more.

沒錯，更多。

5.5 -- almost twice as much.

5.5 次——接近兩倍。

Introverted women: 3.1.

內向的女人：3.1 次。

Extroverted women?

外向的女人呢？

Frankly, speaking as an introverted male,

坦白說，對我這個內向的男人來說，

which I will explain later --

我晚點會解釋

they are heroic.

她們超猛的，

7.5.

7.5 次。

They not only handle all the male extroverts,

她們不只上了所有外向的男人，

they pick up a few introverts as well.

連一些內向的男人都被她們搞了。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

We communicate differently, extroverts and introverts.

內向的人跟外向的人 溝通的方式也不同。

Extroverts, when they interact,

外向的人在互動時，

want to have lots of social encounter punctuated by closeness.

比較喜歡近距離的社交方式，

They'd like to stand close for comfortable communication.

為了有一個舒服的溝通方式， 他們會站的比較靠近。

They like to have a lot of eye contact,

他們喜歡眼神的交會，

or mutual gaze.

或互相盯著對方看。

We found in some research

在一些研究裡我們發現，

that they use more diminutive terms when they meet somebody.

他們在跟人互動時， 也很喜歡用小名。

So when an extrovert meets a Charles,

比如，當一個外向的人 遇到了「查理斯」，

it rapidly becomes "Charlie," and then "Chuck,"

沒多久，就會叫對方「查理」， 然後「小查」，

and then "Chuckles Baby."

最後變成「阿查寶貝」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Whereas for introverts,

而內向的人，

it remains "Charles," until he's given a pass to be more intimate

在跟對方不熟的時候，

就只會叫對方「查理斯」。

by the person he's talking to.

We speak differently.

我們說話的方式也不同。

Extroverts prefer black-and-white, concrete, simple language.

外向的人，喜歡黑白分明、 簡單明瞭的語言。

Introverts prefer -- and I must again tell you

內向的人喜歡—— 我要再說一遍，

that I am as extreme an introvert as you could possibly imagine --

我是一個極端內向的人， 所以你可以想像——

we speak differently.

我們說話的方式不同，

We prefer contextually complex,

我們喜歡複雜的詞彙、

contingent,

無俚頭、

weasel-word sentences --

有朦朧美的詞彙——

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

More or less.

或多或少啦！

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

As it were.

好像是喔！

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Not to put too fine a point upon it --

講話都不說重點——

like that.

像這樣。

When we talk,

當我們在說話時，

we sometimes talk past each other.

我們常常會雞同鴨講。

I had a consulting contract I shared with a colleague

我跟一個同事共享一個顧問合約，

who's as different from me as two people can possibly be.

我們兩個完全不同。

First, his name is Tom.

第一，他的名字叫湯姆。

Mine isn't.

我的不是......

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Secondly, he's six foot five.

第二，他身高六呎五。

I have a tendency not to be.

我好像也沒那麼高。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And thirdly, he's as extroverted a person as you could find.

第三，他簡直外向透頂了。

I am seriously introverted.

而我是極度內向。

I overload so much,

我想得太多，

I can't even have a cup of coffee after three in the afternoon

如果下午三點後喝咖啡的話，

and expect to sleep in the evening.

晚上就別想睡了。

We had seconded to this project a fellow called Michael.

我們把專案發包給第二個同事， 他叫邁可，

And Michael almost brought the project to a crashing halt.

邁可簡直把專案搞砸了。

So the person who seconded him asked Tom and me,

所以提名他的人， 問湯姆和我的意見，

"What do you make of Michael?"

「你們認為邁可如何？」

Well, I'll tell you what Tom said in a minute.

我等一下告訴各位， 湯姆在那一分鐘內怎麼說他的。

He spoke in classic "extrovert-ese."

他講話的方式超外向、超經典的，

And here is how extroverted ears heard what I said,

另外，從我嘴巴講出來的話， 經過了外向的耳朵

which is actually pretty accurate.

也會做出調整。

I said, "Well Michael does have a tendency at times

我說，「好吧！邁可的行為， 的確、有時候、有點.....

of behaving in a way that some of us might see

行為也許...比一般... 正常人稍微固執一點啦！」

as perhaps more assertive than is normally called for."

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Tom rolled his eyes and he said,

湯姆瞪大眼睛立刻說，

"Brian, that's what I said:

「布萊恩，我也是這麼說：

he's an asshole!"

他就是個王八蛋！」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Now, as an introvert,

身為一個內向的人，

I might gently allude to certain "assholic" qualities

我也許會委婉的形容

這個人的「王八」行為，

in this man's behavior,

but I'm not going to lunge for the a-word.

但我不會飆髒話啊。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But the extrovert says,

但外向的人會說，

"If he walks like one, if he talks like one, I call him one."

「如果他走路、說話的方式像某人， 我就認定他就是那種人」

And we go past each other.

然後我們就開始雞同鴨講了。

Now is this something that we should be heedful of?

我們是不是應該要注意一下這種狀況？

Of course.

當然要。

It's important that we know this.

我們知道這很重要。

Is that all we are?

我們大部分人都是這樣嗎？

Are we just a bunch of traits?

我們不過是一些性格特質的整合嗎？

No, we're not.

不，我們不是。

Remember, you're like some other people

記得，你也許跟一些人很像

and like no other person.

但跟其他人不一樣。

How about that idiosyncratic you?

這些特色是怎麼形塑出你的獨特性的？

As Elizabeth or as George,

就像伊莉莎白或喬治，

you may share your extroversion or your neuroticism.

你們可能有一樣的外向 或神經質的個性。

But are there some distinctively Elizabethan features of your behavior,

但你跟伊莉莎白或喬治的個性特色

or Georgian of yours,

有沒有一些明顯的區別方式，

that make us understand you better than just a bunch of traits?

比起各式各樣的特色， 可以讓我們更了解你

That make us love you?

或更喜歡你？

Not just because you're a certain type of person.

而不單純只是因為你是某一類的人。

I'm uncomfortable putting people in pigeonholes.

我不喜歡把人像鴿子一樣 放進鴿舍裡做分類。

I don't even think pigeons belong in pigeonholes.

我甚至認為鴿子不屬於鴿舍。

So what is it that makes us different?

所以，到底是什麼使 我們不一樣呢？

It's the doings that we have in our life -- the personal projects.

是我們生命中所做的事 ——個人目標。

You have a personal project right now,

你現在就有一個個人目標，

but nobody may know it here.

但在場也許沒有人知道。

It relates to your kid --

這也許跟你小孩有關——

you've been back three times to the hospital,

你已經去醫院三次了，

and they still don't know what's wrong.

但醫生仍然不知道為什麼。

Or it could be your mom.

或者跟你母親有關。

And you'd been acting out of character.

你表現的跟平常不太一樣。

These are free traits.

這些是「自由特性」在作祟， （違反原本生物天性的特性）

You're very agreeable, but you act disagreeably

你原本是和藹可親的， 但突然表現地不和藹可親了，

in order to break down those barriers of administrative torpor

因為你想打破醫院

麻木的行政管理障礙

in the hospital,

to get something for your mom or your child.

讓你母親或小孩可以得到一些東西。

What are these free traits?

「自由特性」是甚麼？

They're where we enact a script

它們是一種腳本，

in order to advance a core project in our lives.

能夠改善我們生命中的核心。

And they are what matters.

它們是很重要的。

Don't ask people what type you are;

不要問別人你是哪一類的人；

ask them, "What are your core projects in your life?"

要問他們，「你人生的主要目標是甚麼？」

And we enact those free traits.

然後我們會採用這些腳本。 （來幫助我們的專案）

I'm an introvert,

我是內向的人。

but I have a core project, which is to profess.

但我有一個核心目標， 就是教導專業知識，

I'm a professor.

我是一位教授。

And I adore my students,

我喜歡我的學生，

and I adore my field.

我熱愛我的專業領域。

And I can't wait to tell them about what's new, what's exciting,

我會忍不住要趕緊告訴他們，

我的新事物、新發現。

what I can't wait to tell them about.

And so I act in an extroverted way,

所以，我就會用外向的 呈現方式來教學，

because at eight in the morning,

因為早上八點上課的學生，

the students need a little bit of humor,

需要一些幽默的老師，

a little bit of engagement to keep them going

讓他們在辛苦的研究中，

in arduous days of study.

可以持續的保持參與感。

But we need to be very careful

但我們要小心，

when we act protractedly out of character.

當我們表現的與平常不一樣 太久一段時間後，

Sometimes we may find that we don't take care of ourselves.

有時候，我們也許會發現我們 沒照顧好我們自己。

I find, for example, after a period of pseudo-extroverted behavior,

舉個例子，我發現， 經過一段時間的假裝外向的行為，

I need to repair somewhere on my own.

我自己也需要平復一下。

As Susan Cain said in her "Quiet" book,

就如同蘇珊坎恩<<安靜>> 這本書裡面寫的一樣，

in a chapter that featured the strange Canadian professor

書中有一個章節提到，

who was teaching at the time at Harvard,

一位在哈佛教書的加拿大教授，

I sometimes go to the men's room

我有時候會躲進男生廁所，

to escape the slings and arrows of outrageous extroverts.

去逃避那些反常的外向人 的閒言閒語。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I remember one particular day when I was retired to a cubicle,

我記得有一天， 我在一間小房間裡休息，

trying to avoid overstimulation.

嘗試著要避免過度的刺激。

And a real extrovert came in beside me -- not right in my cubicle,

然後有一個超級外向的人走進來， ——不是走到我隔壁的小房間，

but in the next cubicle over --

但就在隔一間——

and I could hear various evacuatory noises,

我幾乎可以聽到 各式各樣擾人的噪音，

which we hate -- even our own,

就是很讓人討厭的那種—— 即使是我們自己製造出來的，

that's why we flush during as well as after.

這也是為什麼我後來 會氣到臉紅的原因。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And then I heard this gravelly voice saying,

然後，我突然聽到一個 沙啞的聲音喊著，

"Hey, is that Dr. Little?"

「嘿！那不是小布教授嗎？」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

If anything is guaranteed to constipate an introvert for six months,

如果有任何保證可以讓內向的人 便秘六個月的方法，

it's talking on the john.

就是在廁所裡聊天！

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

That's where I'm going now.

現在，我可要去廁所了！

Don't follow me.

別跟著我。

Thank you.

感謝各位！

(Applause)

（掌聲）