We imitate the habits of three groups in particular: 1. The close. 2. The many. 3. The powerful.Each group offers an opportunity to leverage the 2nd Law of Behavior Change and make our habits more attractive.1. Imitating the CloseProximity has a powerful effect on our behavior.This is true of the physical environment, as we discussed in Chapter 6, but it is also true of the social environment.We pick up habits from the people around us.We copy the way our parents handle arguments, the way our peers flirt with one another, the way our coworkers get results.When your friends smoke pot, you give it a try, too.When your wife has a habit of double-checking that the door is locked before going to bed, you pick it up as well.I find that I often imitate the behavior of those around me without realizing it.In conversation, I’ll automatically assume the body posture of the other person.In college, I began to talk like my roommates. When traveling to other countries, I unconsciously imitate the local accent despite reminding myself to stop.As a general rule, the closer we are to someone, the more likely we are to imitate some of their habits.One groundbreaking study tracked twelve thousand people for thirty-two years and found that “ a person’s chances of becoming obese increased by 57 percent if he or she had a friend who became obese.”It works the other way, too. Another study found that if one person in a relationship lost weight, the other partner would also slim down about one third of the time.Our friends and family provide a sort of invisible peer pressure that pulls us in their direction.Of course, peer pressure is bad only if you’re surrounded by bad influences.When astronaut Mike Massimino was a graduate student at MIT, he took a small robotics class. Of the ten people in the class, four became astronauts.If your goal was to make it into space, then that room was about the best culture you could ask for.Similarly, one study found that the higher your best friend’s IQ at age eleven or twelve, the higher your IQ would be at age fifteen, even after controlling for natural levels of intelligence.We soak up the qualities and practices of those around us.
例句翻译:我们是非常亲密的朋友。 分析:在这里 The close 作为名词化形容词,指关系亲密的人。
Proximity has a powerful effect on our behavior.
接近度对我们的行为有强大的影响。
proximity/prɑːkˈsɪməti/
n. 接近,临近
Ex: The hotel's proximity to the beach is a big advantage.
例句翻译:这家酒店靠近海滩是一大优势。 分析:指在空间、时间或关系上的靠近程度。
This is true of the physical environment, as we discussed in Chapter 6, but it is also true of the social environment.
正如我们在第6章中所讨论的,物理环境如此,社会环境也是如此。
physical/ˈfɪzɪkl/
adj. 物理的,物质的
Ex: We need to keep our physical environment clean.
例句翻译:我们需要保持我们的物理环境清洁。 分析:与 mental (精神的) 或 social (社会的) 相对。
We pick up habits from the people around us.
我们从周围的人那里养成习惯。
pick up/pɪk ʌp/
phrase. 染上(习惯),偶然学到
Ex: Children pick up languages very quickly.
例句翻译:孩子们学语言非常快。 分析:在此语境中,指在不知不觉中染上某种习惯或学会某种技能。
We copy the way our parents handle arguments, the way our peers flirt with one another, the way our coworkers get results.
我们模仿父母处理争论的方式,模仿同龄人互相调情的方式,模仿同事取得成果的方式。
handle/ˈhændl/
v. 处理,应付
Ex: He knows how to handle difficult situations.
例句翻译:他知道如何处理困难局面。 分析:指妥善解决问题或应对某种情况。
flirt/flɜːrt/
v. 调情,打情骂俏
Ex: He is always flirting with the waitresses.
例句翻译:他总是和女服务员调情。 分析:指表现出爱慕之情,但不一定是认真的。
When your friends smoke pot, you give it a try, too.
当你的朋友抽大麻时,你也会去尝试一下。
smoke pot/smoʊk pɑːt/
phrase. 抽大麻
Ex: It is illegal to smoke pot in many countries.
例句翻译:在许多国家抽大麻是违法的。 分析:pot 是口语中对大麻(marijuana)的俗称。
When your wife has a habit of double-checking that the door is locked before going to bed, you pick it up as well.
当你妻子有睡前反复检查门是否锁好的习惯时,你也会养成这个习惯。
double-checking/ˌdʌbl ˈtʃekɪŋ/
v. 再次检查,反复核对
Ex: I'm just double-checking the figures.
例句翻译:我只是在再次核对数据。 分析:指为了确保无误而进行第二次检查。
I find that I often imitate the behavior of those around me without realizing it.
我发现我经常在不知不觉中模仿周围人的行为。
realizing/ˈriːəlaɪzɪŋ/
v. 意识到,察觉到
Ex: He walked away without realizing his mistake.
例句翻译:他走开了,没有意识到自己的错误。 分析:realize 的现在分词,without realizing it 意为“不知不觉地”。
In conversation, I’ll automatically assume the body posture of the other person.
在交谈中,我会自动呈现出对方的身体姿势。
automatically/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/
adv. 自动地,无意识地
Ex: The doors open automatically.
例句翻译:门会自动打开。 分析:在这里指不受意识控制地做出某种行为。
assume/əˈsuːm/
v. 呈现(姿态),假定
Ex: He assumed a relaxed posture.
例句翻译:他呈现出一种放松的姿势。 分析:除了“假设”,还可以表示“呈现出、采取”某种姿态或表情。
posture/ˈpɑːstʃər/
n. 姿势,体态
Ex: Good posture is important for your back.
例句翻译:良好的姿势对你的背部很重要。 分析:指坐着或站立时身体的姿态。
In college, I began to talk like my roommates. When traveling to other countries, I unconsciously imitate the local accent despite reminding myself to stop.
As a general rule, the closer we are to someone, the more likely we are to imitate some of their habits.
作为一般规则,我们与某人越亲近,我们就越有可能模仿他们的一些习惯。
general rule/ˈdʒenrəl ruːl/
phrase. 一般规则,通常情况
Ex: As a general rule, I don't work on weekends.
例句翻译:一般来说,我周末不工作。 分析:用于引出普遍适用的规律或情况。
One groundbreaking study tracked twelve thousand people for thirty-two years and found that “ a person’s chances of becoming obese increased by 57 percent if he or she had a friend who became obese.”
Ex: The study tracked the progress of the patients.
例句翻译:这项研究跟踪了患者的进展。 分析:指持续记录或观察某人或某事物的发展。
obese/oʊˈbiːs/
adj. 肥胖的,过胖的
Ex: He is dangerously obese.
例句翻译:他胖得有危险。 分析:比 fat 更正式和医学化的用词,指极度超重。
It works the other way, too. Another study found that if one person in a relationship lost weight, the other partner would also slim down about one third of the time.
If your goal was to make it into space, then that room was about the best culture you could ask for.
如果你的目标是进入太空,那么那个房间几乎就是你能要求的最好的文化环境了。
make it/meɪk ɪt/
phrase. 获得成功,达到目标
Ex: He worked hard and finally made it.
例句翻译:他努力工作,最终获得了成功。 分析:常用口语短语,表示成功做成某事或到达某地。
Similarly, one study found that the higher your best friend’s IQ at age eleven or twelve, the higher your IQ would be at age fifteen, even after controlling for natural levels of intelligence.