是什麼讓受歡迎的孩子如此受歡迎？：英語精讀講義

So often in American high school movies,

經常在美國的高中電影裡，

there's a certain format when you think about the students,

當你想到那些學生時，往往有一種固定的模式，

especially in those older films.

尤其是在那些老電影中。

The cliques and the clichés

那些小團體和老套的情節

usually involve some alpha male who's a bit of a jock. 用詞

通常會有一個有點像體育健將的「阿爾法男」。

He's handsome and tough,

他又帥又酷，

but usually gets his comeuppance. 片語搭配

但通常也會得到應有的報應。

If there's an alpha female,

如果有「阿爾法女」，

the school's hottest chick, 用詞

也就是學校裡最辣的妹，

well, she often turns out to be mean and insecure. 片語動詞

嗯，她往往會被證明是刻薄且缺乏安全感的。

Then there's the bespectacled nerd

然後還有戴著眼鏡的書呆子，

or the likable and clumsy stoner 用詞

或者是討喜卻笨手笨腳的癮君子，

and the wholesome church-going kid

以及乖巧去教會做禮拜的孩子，

who really pines for wild excitement. 片語搭配

骨子裡卻非常渴望狂野的刺激。

Is there any truth to these stereotypes?

這些刻板印象有幾分真實性嗎？

Probably yes,

可能有吧，

but only you can be the judge of that. 語氣意圖

但只有你自己能來評斷。

A better question is,

一個更好的問題是，

why do some kids always seem to attract a following? 片語搭配

為什麼有些孩子似乎總是能吸引一群追隨者？

That's what we'll find out today.

這就是我們今天想要探討的。

In this episode of The Infographics Show,

在本集《The Infographics Show》中，

what makes popular kids popular?

是什麼讓受歡迎的孩子如此受歡迎？

This popularity game isn't just a phenomenon in high school.

這種人氣遊戲不僅是高中的獨有現象。

If you watch young kids interact in primary school or even preschool,

如果你觀察小學甚至幼稚園裡小孩子們的互動，

you'll often see a child

你經常會看到一個孩子

that seems to spend a lot of time by him or herself,

似乎大部分時間都獨自待著，

ignored and sometimes looking slightly sad.

受到冷落，有時看起來還有些悲傷。

Then you look over to the other end of the playground

然後你看向操場的另一頭，

and there's a little tyrant

會發現一個小霸王

shouting orders and taking charge of pretty much everything. 片語搭配

在發號施令，幾乎掌控著一切。

This is often the popular child,

這往往就是那個受歡迎的孩子，

at least as far as the eye can see. 慣用語

至少在視線所及的範圍內是如此。

One researcher named Patricia Hawley

一位名叫Patricia Hawley的研究員

calls these types of children bi-strategic controllers. 用詞

將這類孩子稱為「雙重策略控制者」。

There's another name for this that you might know,

還有另一個你可能更熟悉的叫法，

frenemy. 用詞

「友敵」（frenemy）。

They dominate and they could be what we call alpha kids.

他們喜歡支配別人，可能就是我們所說的「阿爾法小孩」。

Hawley says they will also take stuff from their friends

Hawley說，他們還會拿走朋友的東西

and threaten other children.

並且威脅其他孩子。

Now, while that doesn't sound like it could lead to popularity,

儘管這聽起來不像是能帶來人氣的做法，

she also says they have great social skills

但她也表示，這些孩子擁有出色的社交技巧

and can be very cooperative.

並且能表現得非常配合。

Still, why are they so popular?

那麼，為什麼他們還是那麼受歡迎呢？

Well, that's partly because they are usually quite charming

這在一定程度上是因為他們通常相當有魅力，

and act in a positive way.

行事也很積極主動。

It draws kids to them. 片語搭配

這吸引了其他孩子向他們靠攏。

This confidence of theirs attracts friends 文法

他們的自信吸引了朋友，

and that makes them happy

這讓他們感到快樂，

and this happiness is also said to be magnetizing.

而據說這種快樂也是具有磁性的。

Psychology Today goes further, 表達脈絡

《Psychology Today》則進一步

explaining that by the time the kids are around the age of 11, 文法

解釋說，當孩子們長到大約11歲時，

they are already in some kind of clique.

他們就已經處於某種小團體之中了。

But there's one clique more popular than the others

但總有一個小團體比其他的更受歡迎，

and about 1/3 of young students will be in that clique.

大約三分之一的小學生會屬於那個小團體。

This group engages in a lot of nasty political maneuvering 慣用語

這個群體會進行許多令人反感的政治手段

to maintain or enhance social status, 片語搭配

來維持或提升他們的社交地位，

the researcher said,

該研究員說，

stating that about 1/10 of students

並指出大約十分之一的學生

will be trying to get into this clique,

會努力試圖擠進這個小團體，

the hangers-on, 用詞

他們被稱為跟屁蟲，

and another 1/10 will be natural-born loners. 用詞

而另外十分之一則是天生的獨行俠。

About half of the students in one school year

在一個學年裡，大約一半的學生

won't care much about popularity

並不太在乎受不受歡迎，

and have their own small group of friends without much politics

他們有自己小小的朋友圈，沒有那麼多勾心鬥角，

and they are generally loyal and caring to one another.

他們彼此之間通常很忠誠、互相關心。

They might only be popular with their group,

他們可能只在自己的小圈子裡受歡迎，

but it seems they might also be more content. 用詞

但看來他們可能也更容易感到滿足。

Besides being dominant,

心理學家表示，除了表現出支配慾之外，

psychologists say that when children approach their teens,

當孩子們快進入青春期時，

just being good-looking will make them popular,

僅僅是長得好看就能讓他們受歡迎，

as will athleticism, wealth, strength, 文法

運動能力、財富、力量也一樣，

and sometimes the fear they impose

有時甚至是因為他們給人帶來的恐懼感，

or the fashionable clothes they wear.

或者是他們穿的時尚衣服。

While manipulative and aggressive kids may win other kids over 片語動詞

雖然喜歡操縱別人且具有攻擊性的孩子可能會贏得其他孩子的追隨

in the younger years,

在他們年紀較小的時候，

researcher Antonia Suluson says

但研究員Antonia Suluson說

that these cool kids will often lose their attraction in high school.

這些很酷的孩子在上了高中後往往會失去吸引力。

But there is always nuance when it comes to the human mind. 片語搭配

但涉及到人類心理時，事情總有細微差別。

An Australian study taken in 2015

一項2015年在澳洲進行的研究

said one of the best assets a kid can have

表明，一個孩子如果想受歡迎，

if he or she wants to be popular

所能擁有的最大資產之一

is actually mind-reading. 用詞

實際上是「讀心術」。

They were talking about young kids, though,

不過，他們討論的是比較小的孩子，

ages 2 to 10.

年齡在2到10歲之間。

They looked at 2,096 children

他們觀察了2096名兒童

from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America

來自亞洲、澳洲、歐洲和北美，

and found that those that got on best and were popular 片語動詞

結果發現，那些混得最好、最受歡迎的孩子

knew what the other kids wanted,

知道其他孩子想要什麼、

thought, and felt.

在想什麼、有什麼感覺。

They were empathetic.

他們富有同理心。

You don't have to be a mean girl to be liked, 用詞

你不需要成為一個壞女孩才能討人喜歡，

but you may have to

但你可能必須要這樣

if you want to constantly be the belle of the ball. 慣用語

如果你想要永遠成為舞會上最耀眼的人。

The British Journal of Developmental Psychology

《British Journal of Developmental Psychology》

said a similar thing

也有類似的說法，

in that kids that know what others are thinking 文法

認為知道其他人在想什麼的孩子

tend to be popular

往往比較受歡迎，

and they added that sometimes this could be used for kind acts,

他們還補充說，有時這種能力會被用於行善，

but at other times manipulation.

但在其他時候則被用於操縱。

It's no wonder school is sometimes called a battleground. 講解

難怪學校有時被稱為戰場。

The same study said jock popularity was indeed a real 片語搭配

同一項研究指出，校園健將的受歡迎程度確實是真實

thing, stating older high schoolers will be drawn to strong,

存在的，並指出高年級的高中生會被強壯、

good-looking, athletic, and smartly dressed kids.

漂亮、擅長運動且穿著考究的孩子所吸引。

But in actuality, said the study,

但研究表示，實際上，

we might just perceive them being more popular.

我們可能只是覺得他們更受歡迎。

They might also be secretly envied or hated by their peers.

他們在背地裡可能也會被同儕嫉妒或討厭。

Who needs that? 語氣意圖

誰需要這樣呢？

The study said the same thing about tough guys.

該研究對於硬漢類型的孩子也有同樣的看法。

While they might be surrounded by minions, 用詞

雖然他們可能被一群小弟簇擁著，

that doesn't necessarily mean they are popular. 文法

但那並不一定意味著他們就受歡迎。

Humans are not primates

人類不是靈長類動物，

and we don't have the same dominance hierarchy

我們並沒有相同的統治階層，

because we have more developed and complex minds.

因為我們擁有更發達、更複雜的大腦。

In fact,

實際上，

what really makes popular kids more popular

真正讓受歡迎的孩子更加受歡迎的，

is when they have great impulse control.

是他們擁有極強的衝動控制能力。

They might get angry,

他們也可能會生氣，

but only when it is called for. 片語動詞

但只有在必要的時候才會發作。

Most studies state that those dominant kids who may seem popular,

大多數研究表明，那些看起來受歡迎的強勢孩子，

but are distrusted, disloyal, or too aggressive

如果不被信任、不忠誠或太具攻擊性，

are actually not as popular as we might think. 文法

實際上並沒有我們想像的那麼受歡迎。

Psychologists state that these kids are often unhappy on the inside 慣用語

心理學家指出，這些孩子的內心往往並不快樂，

as we all get fulfillment from true love and sincere friendships. 片語搭配

因為我們都是從真愛和真誠的友誼中獲得滿足感的。

But why trust the experts? 表達脈絡

但是為什麼要相信專家呢？

What do high school kids think about what makes others popular?

高中生自己是怎麼看待讓別人受歡迎的原因的呢？

This was asked on a forum

有人在論壇上問了這個問題，

and here are some of the answers.

以下是一些回答。

One high school senior said social skills was one thing,

一位高中高年級學生說，社交技巧是一方面，

but also having some particular skill you are very good at.

但擁有某項你非常擅長的特殊技能也是一方面。

You must have both.

你必須兩者兼備。

The sociability might be an important factor here

在這裡，社交能力可能是一個重要因素，

as sometimes great minds tend to be less sociable.

因為有時候聰明絕頂的人往往不太合群。

We might call these young adults nerds or geeks. 用詞

我們可能會稱這些年輕人為書呆子或怪胎。

The genius Elon Musk said he was always a bit different

天才Elon Musk說他總是顯得有些與眾不同，

and for that he said he was continually bullied in school,

正因為如此，他說他在學校不斷被霸凌，

enough to traumatize him. 文法

足以給他留下心理陰影。

Musk's first wife once said,

Musk的第一任妻子曾說，

"I don't think people understand how tough he had it growing 文法

「我不認為人們了解他的成長過程有多艱難。

up. He was a really lonely kid."

他真的曾是個非常孤獨的孩子。」

Michael Phelps said he was also bullied a lot,

Michael Phelps說他也經常被霸凌，

but said he channeled his anger into his training regimen. 片語搭配

但他把憤怒轉化為訓練的動力。

Most people on the forum agreed,

論壇上的大多數人都同意，

being good at socializing and having some kind of talent

擅長社交並具備某種才華

was key to high school popularity. 片語搭配

是在高中受到歡迎的關鍵。

Another person was maybe more cynical

另一個人可能更憤世嫉俗一點，

and even had her own equation for popularity. 慣用語

甚至有她自己的一套計算受歡迎程度的方程式。

This combined looks, friends, number of enemies, rejections,

這結合了長相、朋友、敵人的數量、被拒絕的次數，

and who is following you on Instagram.

以及誰在Instagram上追蹤了你。

She believed mathematically you could work out your popularity, 片語動詞

她相信你可以用數學方法算出你有多受歡迎，

but it's likely she was joking.

但她很可能是在開玩笑。

So, what if you are popular or were

那麼，如果你現在很受歡迎，或者曾經

popular? What does this mean for later

很受歡迎呢？這對你以後的生活

life? One study led by Joseph P. Allen,

意味著什麼？維吉尼亞大學心理學教授

Hugh P. Kelly Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia,

Joseph P. Allen領導的一項研究

looked at 184 US teens

觀察了184名美國青少年，

and followed them for 10 years from age 13 to 23.

並在他們13到23歲這10年間進行了追蹤調查。

According to that study,

根據這項研究，

being popular comes back to bite you in the butt. 慣用語

受歡迎最終會讓你自食其果。

They said the popular kids in high school

他們說高中裡受歡迎的孩子

were more likely to have problems with drugs, alcohol, 文法

更容易沾染毒品、酒精問題，

and even have more chance of becoming involved in crime.

甚至有更大的機率捲入犯罪活動。

The study also followed those cool kids in school

該研究還追蹤了學校裡那些酷小孩，

who showed pseudo-mature 用詞

他們表現出看似成熟的

behaviors. These are the reckless kids,

行為。這些就是魯莽的孩子，

the kids that first smoke, sneak into movie theaters,

那些最先抽菸、偷偷溜進電影院、

damage property,

破壞公物、

or tell you how they reached second base 慣用語

或者告訴你他們是如何「上二壘」的孩子，

when you haven't even been near the field.

而你卻連球場都還沒靠近過。

Not surprisingly, these

毫不奇怪，這些

kids, as the Hollywood movies often portray,

孩子，就像好萊塢電影中經常描繪的那樣，

became more delinquent

變得越來越不守規矩，

until it started to make them less popular and more reckless.

直到這讓他們變得不那麼受歡迎，也越來越魯莽。

The study said they would take part in riskier and more criminal acts

研究稱，他們會參與風險更高、犯罪性質更重的活動，

to gain popularity with older peers,

以便在比自己年長的同儕中獲得人氣，

but it was a dead-end street. 慣用語

但那只是一條死胡同。

As for the kids that were only popular for their looks or bravado, 講解

至於那些只是因為長相或虛張聲勢而受歡迎的孩子，

the study said in later life this became a problem.

研究表明在他們以後的生活中這也成了問題。

These previously cool teens appeared less competent, socially, and otherwise,

到了青年時期，這些以前很酷的青少年在社交和其他方面，

than their less cool peers by the time they reached young adulthood,

似乎都比那些不那麼酷的同儕缺乏能力，

said the researchers.

研究人員說。

Because their early relationships weren't grounded in empathy and love, 慣用語

因為他們早期的關係並非建立在同理心和愛之上，

in adult life they struggled to form lasting relationships. 片語搭配

在成年生活中，他們很難建立持久的關係。

So, are you in high school right now?

那麼，你現在上高中嗎？

And if so, can you add to this?

如果是的話，你有什麼要補充的嗎？

We've all been there, 慣用語

我們都經歷過這個階段，

so what do you think about these studies?

那麼你對這些研究有什麼看法呢？

Do they mirror your experience? 慣用語

它們反映了你的經歷嗎？

Let us know in the comments.

請在留言區告訴我們。

Also, be sure to check out our other video

此外，請務必去看看我們的另一個影片

called Private School versus Public School.

叫做《私立學校與公立學校》。

Thanks for watching and as always,

感謝觀看，和往常一樣，

don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

別忘了按讚、分享和訂閱。

See you next time.

我們下次見。