TEDSummit
Abigail Marsh: Why some people are more altruistic than others
艾比蓋爾．馬許: 為什麼有些人特別博愛？
Filmed:
Readability: 4.4
2,142,656 views
為何有些人會有無私的行為？即便冒著風險也在所不惜？心理學家艾比蓋爾．馬許研究極人們端利他行動的動機，例如捐贈腎臟給陌生人。難道是因為他們大腦構造與眾不同嗎？
Abigail Marsh - Psychologist
Abigail Marsh asks essential questions: If humans are evil, why do we sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to help others even at a cost to ourselves? Full bio
Abigail Marsh asks essential questions: If humans are evil, why do we sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to help others even at a cost to ourselves? Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
There's a man out there, somewhere,
0
760
2096
一位男子站在那，
00:14
who looks a little bit
like the actor Idris Elba,
like the actor Idris Elba,
1
2880
2976
長的有點神似演員伊卓瑞斯·艾巴，
00:17
or at least he did 20 years ago.
2
5880
2376
或者是艾巴20年前的樣子。
00:20
I don't know anything else about him,
3
8280
1816
除了他鋌而走險
00:22
except that he once saved my life
4
10120
1896
救了我一命以外，
00:24
by putting his own life in danger.
5
12040
1640
我對他一無所知。
00:26
This man ran across four lanes of freeway
traffic in the middle of the night
traffic in the middle of the night
6
14600
5376
在夜裡，男子橫穿4條高速行車道，
00:32
to bring me back to safety
7
20000
1776
將我從一場致命車禍中救出，
00:33
after a car accident
that could have killed me.
that could have killed me.
8
21800
2776
並且將我帶到到安全的地方。
00:36
And the whole thing
left me really shaken up, obviously,
left me really shaken up, obviously,
9
24600
2656
整個事件讓我相當恐慌，
00:39
but it also left me with this
kind of burning, gnawing need
kind of burning, gnawing need
10
27280
3976
但也留下了一個纏繞在心頭、
揮之不去的困惑，
揮之不去的困惑，
00:43
to understand why he did it,
11
31280
1640
讓我想了解為什麼他要這麼做。
00:45
what forces within him
caused him to make the choice
caused him to make the choice
12
33760
2776
是什麼樣的動力
00:48
that I owe my life to,
13
36560
1856
讓他決定冒著喪失性命的風險
00:50
to risk his own life
to save the life of a stranger?
to save the life of a stranger?
14
38440
3616
去拯救一個陌生人的命？
00:54
In other words, what are the causes of his
or anybody else's capacity for altruism?
or anybody else's capacity for altruism?
15
42080
5040
換句話說，哪種因素造就了
他或者其他人的利他行為？
他或者其他人的利他行為？
00:59
But first let me tell you what happened.
16
47840
2016
在開始之前，讓我先告訴你們這故事。
01:01
That night, I was 19 years old
17
49880
1456
事件當晚，我那時19歲，
01:03
and driving back to my home
in Tacoma, Washington,
in Tacoma, Washington,
18
51360
2376
我正要開車返回位於華盛頓州塔科馬的家，
01:05
down the Interstate 5 freeway,
19
53760
1816
要下第五洲際公路時，
01:07
when a little dog
darted out in front of my car.
darted out in front of my car.
20
55600
2536
一隻小狗飛奔到我的車子前方。
01:10
And I did exactly
what you're not supposed to do,
what you're not supposed to do,
21
58160
2336
我立刻轉向避免撞上牠，
01:12
which is swerve to avoid it.
22
60520
1360
雖然這並不是一個值得大家學習的做法。
01:14
And I discovered why
you're not supposed to do that.
you're not supposed to do that.
23
62480
2440
並且，我發現不該這麼做的原因。
01:17
I hit the dog anyways,
24
65319
1737
我最終還是撞到了那條狗，
01:19
and that sent the car into a fishtail,
25
67080
2616
我的車子也劇烈搖晃，
01:21
and then a spin across the freeway,
26
69720
2576
最且開始在公路上打轉，
01:24
until finally it wound up
in the fast lane of the freeway
in the fast lane of the freeway
27
72320
3576
最後停在了公路的快車道上，
01:27
faced backwards into oncoming traffic
28
75920
2936
逆向面對即將而來的車輛，
01:30
and then the engine died.
29
78880
1360
此時我的引擎卻無法發動。
01:33
And I was sure in that moment
that I was about to die too,
that I was about to die too,
30
81480
3560
我非常確定，那個瞬間，我將喪失性命
01:37
but I didn't
31
85880
1216
但我沒有。
01:39
because of the actions
of that one brave man
of that one brave man
32
87120
2736
因為一位勇敢的男子，做出行動，
01:41
who must have made the decision
33
89880
1496
在看見我拋錨的車子後，
01:43
within a fraction of a second
of seeing my stranded car
of seeing my stranded car
34
91400
3016
下定決心，把車停在路旁，
01:46
to pull over and run
across four lanes of freeway traffic
across four lanes of freeway traffic
35
94440
4256
在昏暗不明的黑夜中，
01:50
in the dark
36
98720
1936
飛奔過4條行車道，
01:52
to save my life.
37
100680
1976
救了我一命。
01:54
And then after he got my car working again
38
102680
2896
事後他幫我的車子修理處理好，
01:57
and got me back to safety
and made sure I was going to be all right,
and made sure I was going to be all right,
39
105600
3616
並且帶我到了安全的地點
確保一切無恙後，
確保一切無恙後，
02:01
he drove off again.
40
109240
1536
他才開車離去。
02:02
He never even told me his name,
41
110800
2336
他甚至沒有告訴我他的名字﹐
02:05
and I'm pretty sure
I forgot to say thank you.
I forgot to say thank you.
42
113160
2160
而我也清楚記得，我忘記道謝了。
02:08
So before I go any further,
43
116440
1936
在我繼續講下去之前，
02:10
I really want to take a moment
44
118400
1456
我真的很想花點時間
02:11
to stop and say thank you
to that stranger.
to that stranger.
45
119880
2800
好好地答謝那位陌生人。
02:15
(Applause)
46
123280
1720
（掌聲）
02:22
I tell you all of this
47
130919
1217
我將這件事情告訴你們，
02:24
because the events of that night changed
the course of my life to some degree.
the course of my life to some degree.
48
132160
4216
是因為那晚的事情，
某些程度上地改變了我的人生課題，
某些程度上地改變了我的人生課題，
02:28
I became a psychology researcher,
49
136400
1616
我成為了一位心理學研究者，
02:30
and I've devoted my work to understanding
the human capacity to care for others.
the human capacity to care for others.
50
138040
4776
並且致力於理解人類照顧他人的能力。
02:34
Where does it come from,
and how does it develop,
and how does it develop,
51
142840
2336
究竟這能力是怎麼來的？
又是怎麼發展的?
又是怎麼發展的?
02:37
and what are the extreme forms
that it can take?
that it can take?
52
145200
2240
為什麼在極端的情況也能展現出來？
02:40
These questions are really important
to understanding basic aspects
to understanding basic aspects
53
148120
3176
這些問題對於理解人類的社會性來說，
02:43
of human social nature.
54
151320
1240
是相當重要的基本方面。
02:45
A lot of people,
and this includes everybody
and this includes everybody
55
153320
2096
有許多人，包括各種職業
02:47
from philosophers
and economists to ordinary people
and economists to ordinary people
56
155440
2896
像是哲學家、經濟學家甚至是一般人，
02:50
believe that human nature
is fundamentally selfish,
is fundamentally selfish,
57
158360
3256
都認為人性是自私的，
02:53
that we're only ever really motivated
by our own welfare.
by our own welfare.
58
161640
4176
人們總是因為有利可圖才行動。
02:57
But if that's true, why do some people,
like the stranger who rescued me,
like the stranger who rescued me,
59
165840
4296
但如果人真如此，
為何有些人會做一些對無私的事
為何有些人會做一些對無私的事
03:02
do selfless things,
like helping other people
like helping other people
60
170160
2496
像是冒著風險幫助別人，
03:04
at enormous risk and cost to themselves?
61
172680
2440
或像那位陌生人一樣幫助我呢？
03:07
Answering this question
62
175880
1296
要想回答這個疑問，
03:09
requires exploring the roots
of extraordinary acts of altruism,
of extraordinary acts of altruism,
63
177200
4096
我們需要探索利他行為的根源，
03:13
and what might make people
who engage in such acts
who engage in such acts
64
181320
2376
為什麼有些人不同於他人，
03:15
different than other people.
65
183720
1856
會願意參與這樣非凡的舉動呢？
03:17
But until recently, very little work
on this topic had been done.
on this topic had been done.
66
185600
3080
到目前為止，幾乎沒有研究探討這樣的議題。
03:21
The actions of the man who rescued me
67
189920
1816
幫助我的那位男子
03:23
meet the most stringent
definition of altruism,
definition of altruism,
68
191760
2976
符合了利他主義的最極端定義，
03:26
which is a voluntary, costly behavior
69
194760
2616
即是志願性地、大投入地
03:29
motivated by the desire
to help another individual.
to help another individual.
70
197400
2440
並且強烈地渴望幫助他人。
03:32
So it's a selfless act
intended to benefit only the other.
intended to benefit only the other.
71
200640
3120
這是無私的舉動，他們試圖帶給人們利益。
03:36
What could possibly
explain an action like that?
explain an action like that?
72
204560
2560
該如何解釋這樣的舉動呢？
03:40
One answer is compassion, obviously,
73
208120
1936
顯然，第一個答案是同情心，
03:42
which is a key driver of altruism.
74
210080
1800
這是驅動利他行為的重點。
03:44
But then the question becomes,
75
212520
1616
但這樣問題又變成了
03:46
why do some people
seem to have more of it than others?
seem to have more of it than others?
76
214160
2760
為什麼某些人
會比其他人更有同情心？
會比其他人更有同情心？
03:50
And the answer may be that the brains
of highly altruistic people
of highly altruistic people
77
218120
3896
答案可能是具高度利他行為的人們
03:54
are different in fundamental ways.
78
222040
2200
本質上腦袋就跟其他人不同。
03:57
But to figure out how,
79
225120
1896
為了去找出緣由，
03:59
I actually started from the opposite end,
80
227040
2120
我從反面思考著手，
04:02
with psychopaths.
81
230160
1200
研究一些精神病患者。
04:04
A common approach to understanding
basic aspects of human nature,
basic aspects of human nature,
82
232680
3096
想要研究幫助他人的天性，
04:07
like the desire to help other people,
83
235800
2016
我們採用了一個普遍的研究方法，
04:09
is to study people
in whom that desire is missing,
in whom that desire is missing,
84
237840
3136
即是去研究某些失去這些天性的人們，
04:13
and psychopaths are exactly such a group.
85
241000
2120
像是一些精神病患者就很符合這項特徵。
04:16
Psychopathy is a developmental disorder
86
244200
2376
這些精神病患者由於基因上的缺陷，
04:18
with strongly genetic origins,
87
246600
2096
導致發展過程中具有缺陷，
04:20
and it results in a personality
that's cold and uncaring
that's cold and uncaring
88
248720
2896
最終造成他們的冷酷無情，
04:23
and a tendency to engage in antisocial
and sometimes very violent behavior.
and sometimes very violent behavior.
89
251640
3524
這讓他們傾向利用一些
反社會甚至暴利行為解決事情。
反社會甚至暴利行為解決事情。
04:28
Once my colleagues and I
at the National Institute of Mental Health
at the National Institute of Mental Health
90
256040
3256
在國家心理衛生研究院
04:31
conducted some of the first ever
brain imaging research
brain imaging research
91
259320
2615
我和同事拍攝了第一例
04:33
of psychopathic adolescents,
92
261959
2137
患有精神疾病青少年的腦部影像，
04:36
and our findings, and the findings
of other researchers now,
of other researchers now,
93
264120
2856
我們及後續研究者的發現
04:39
have shown that people
who are psychopathic
who are psychopathic
94
267000
2296
都顯示出患有精神疾病的人們
04:41
pretty reliably exhibit
three characteristics.
three characteristics.
95
269320
2920
擁有三個相關性極高的特徵。
04:45
First, although they're not generally
insensitive to other people's emotions,
insensitive to other people's emotions,
96
273160
4616
首先，他們對於感受別人的情緒
並沒有遲鈍的表現，
並沒有遲鈍的表現，
04:49
they are insensitive to signs
that other people are in distress.
that other people are in distress.
97
277800
3776
但是對於他人的痛苦情緒卻難以感受。
04:53
And in particular,
98
281600
1216
特別是，
04:54
they have difficulty recognizing
fearful facial expressions like this one.
fearful facial expressions like this one.
99
282840
3896
他們對於辨識恐懼的臉部表情有障礙，像這張圖。
04:58
And fearful expressions convey
urgent need and emotional distress,
urgent need and emotional distress,
100
286760
3696
而恐懼的表情傳遞了
一個人的急迫及精神上的痛苦，
一個人的急迫及精神上的痛苦，
05:02
and they usually elicit
compassion and a desire to help
compassion and a desire to help
101
290480
2616
一般人見到恐懼的表情，
通常都會被激起同情心，並想要伸出援手，
05:05
in people who see them,
102
293120
1256
05:06
so it makes sense that people
who tend to lack compassion
who tend to lack compassion
103
294400
2696
所以合理的推論是，缺乏同情心的人
05:09
also tend to be insensitive to these cues.
104
297120
2120
其實是難以感受這些暗示的。
05:12
The part of the brain
105
300520
1216
在大腦中，
05:13
that's the most important
for recognizing fearful expressions
for recognizing fearful expressions
106
301760
2896
分辨恐懼表情的重要部分
05:16
is called the amygdala.
107
304680
1256
叫做杏仁核。
05:17
There are very rare cases of people
who lack amygdalas completely,
who lack amygdalas completely,
108
305960
3416
極少數的人有杏仁核發展不全的症狀，
05:21
and they're profoundly impaired
in recognizing fearful expressions.
in recognizing fearful expressions.
109
309400
3856
而這些人對於恐懼表情的辨識
都有相當程度的障礙。
都有相當程度的障礙。
05:25
And whereas healthy adults and children
110
313280
2376
儘管他們是身體健康的成人或小孩，
05:27
usually show big spikes
in amygdala activity
in amygdala activity
111
315680
2616
他們在看到恐懼的表情時，
05:30
when they look at fearful expressions,
112
318320
2136
腦中杏仁核的活性都有嚴重的阻礙，
05:32
psychopaths' amygdalas
are underreactive to these expressions.
are underreactive to these expressions.
113
320480
3136
精神病患者的杏仁核
對這些表情感受不活躍。
對這些表情感受不活躍。
05:35
Sometimes they don't react at all,
114
323640
1656
有時候他們根本沒有反應，
05:37
which may be why they have
trouble detecting these cues.
trouble detecting these cues.
115
325320
2620
或許這就是為何他們在
感受恐懼表情上會有障礙。
感受恐懼表情上會有障礙。
05:41
Finally, psychopaths' amygdalas
are smaller than average
are smaller than average
116
329240
3136
精神病患者的杏仁核
05:44
by about 18 or 20 percent.
117
332400
1600
比正常人還小18-20%
05:46
So all of these findings
are reliable and robust,
are reliable and robust,
118
334920
3816
因此，這些發現的可信度相當高，
05:50
and they're very interesting.
119
338760
1456
同時也是相當有趣的發現。
05:52
But remember that my main interest
120
340240
1656
但請記得我主要感興趣的
05:53
is not understanding
why people don't care about others.
why people don't care about others.
121
341920
3536
並非為何有些人不關心他人。
05:57
It's understanding why they do.
122
345480
1560
而是為何人會關心他人。
05:59
So the real question is,
123
347880
2296
所以真正的問題是，
06:02
could extraordinary altruism,
124
350200
2256
精神病患者的相反面，
06:04
which is the opposite of psychopathy
125
352480
2216
充滿同情心並可望幫助他人的人們，
06:06
in terms of compassion
and the desire to help other people,
and the desire to help other people,
126
354720
3416
那些非凡的利他行為，
06:10
emerge from a brain that is also
the opposite of psychopathy?
the opposite of psychopathy?
127
358160
4016
是否因為他們的大腦與
精神病患者也完全相反？
精神病患者也完全相反？
06:14
A sort of antipsychopathic brain,
128
362200
2240
非精神病患者的大腦，
06:17
better able to recognize
other people's fear,
other people's fear,
129
365880
3096
是否就能辨識人們恐懼的臉孔？
06:21
an amygdala that's more reactive
to this expression
to this expression
130
369000
2416
是否他們的杏仁核對這個表情能活化？
06:23
and maybe larger than average as well?
131
371440
1840
或者他們的杏仁核比正常人的還要大？
06:25
As my research has now shown,
132
373920
2016
依據我的研究，
06:27
all three things are true.
133
375960
1456
三者皆是。
06:29
And we discovered this
134
377440
1256
透過測試那些真的具有利他行為的人，
06:30
by testing a population
of truly extraordinary altruists.
of truly extraordinary altruists.
135
378720
3016
我們發現了這些現象。
06:33
These are people who have given
one of their own kidneys
one of their own kidneys
136
381760
2656
那些受試者很樂意將自己的腎臟，
06:36
to a complete stranger.
137
384440
1200
去提供給一位陌生人。
06:38
So these are people who have volunteered
to undergo major surgery
to undergo major surgery
138
386600
3096
這些人自願承受大型手術，
06:41
so that one of their own
healthy kidneys can be removed
healthy kidneys can be removed
139
389720
2616
將他們自己的健康腎臟轉移，
06:44
and transplanted into a very ill stranger
140
392360
2056
到另一位虛弱的陌生人身上，
06:46
that they've never met and may never meet.
141
394440
2040
他們甚至從未見過這些陌生人。
06:49
"Why would anybody do this?"
is a very common question.
is a very common question.
142
397040
2800
「為什麼會有人這樣做？」
這是一個大家都想知道的問題。
這是一個大家都想知道的問題。
06:52
And the answer may be
143
400520
1376
而答案可能是因為
06:53
that the brains of these
extraordinary altruists
extraordinary altruists
144
401920
2256
這些具非凡利他行為的人，
06:56
have certain special characteristics.
145
404200
1800
他們的大腦有一些特別之處。
06:59
They are better at recognizing
other people's fear.
other people's fear.
146
407040
3216
他們更善於感受他人的恐懼。
07:02
They're literally better at detecting
when somebody else is in distress.
when somebody else is in distress.
147
410280
3416
他們確實更能偵測到別人的痛苦情緒。
07:05
This may be in part because their amygdala
is more reactive to these expressions.
is more reactive to these expressions.
148
413720
4656
可能有部分是因為他們的杏仁核
對這些表情的反應更加活耀。
對這些表情的反應更加活耀。
07:10
And remember, this is the same part
of the brain that we found
of the brain that we found
149
418400
2936
提醒一下，精神病患者腦中同一個部位
07:13
was underreactive
in people who are psychopathic.
in people who are psychopathic.
150
421360
2336
對此是不活耀的。
07:15
And finally, their amygdalas
are larger than average as well,
are larger than average as well,
151
423720
2896
最後一點，我們發現具利他行為的人，
07:18
by about eight percent.
152
426640
1216
他們的杏仁核比常人大了8%。
07:19
So together, what these data suggest
153
427880
1736
綜上所述，這些資訊顯示了
07:21
is the existence of something
like a caring continuum in the world
like a caring continuum in the world
154
429640
3616
世界上的人們可能存在於這條愛心連續曲線上，
07:25
that's anchored at the one end
by people who are highly psychopathic,
by people who are highly psychopathic,
155
433280
3536
有的人在精神疾病的極端，不具同情心，
07:28
and at the other by people
who are very compassionate
who are very compassionate
156
436840
2496
也有人非常地有同情心，
07:31
and driven to acts of extreme altruism.
157
439360
1920
導致他們有極端的利他行為。
07:34
But I should add that what makes
extraordinary altruists so different
extraordinary altruists so different
158
442760
3936
但我要強調，這些非凡的利他行為
07:38
is not just that they're
more compassionate than average.
more compassionate than average.
159
446720
2696
並不僅是因為他們的同情心強於常人。
07:41
They are,
160
449440
1216
他們其實是
07:42
but what's even more unusual about them
161
450680
1896
更加地與眾不同，
07:44
is that they're compassionate
and altruistic
and altruistic
162
452600
2096
他們的同情心跟利他行為
07:46
not just towards people
who are in their own innermost circle
who are in their own innermost circle
163
454720
2936
不僅是對於最接近自己的人際關係，
07:49
of friends and family. Right?
164
457680
1976
像是朋友跟家人，對吧？
07:51
Because to have compassion for people
that you love and identify with
that you love and identify with
165
459680
3256
因為對你所愛的人有同情心，
07:54
is not extraordinary.
166
462960
2200
並不能算是非凡的行為。
07:58
Truly extraordinary altruists' compassion
extends way beyond that circle,
extends way beyond that circle,
167
466040
4176
真正非凡的利他者的同情心，會延伸至圈外．
08:02
even beyond their wider
circle of acquaintances
circle of acquaintances
168
470240
2216
甚至延伸到熟人圈之外，
08:04
to people who are outside
their social circle altogether,
their social circle altogether,
169
472480
2936
延伸到自己社交圈以外的所有人，
08:07
total strangers,
170
475440
1536
所有的陌生人，
08:09
just like the man who rescued me.
171
477000
1600
就像是那位拯救我的男子那樣。
08:11
And I've had the opportunity now
to ask a lot of altruistic kidney donors
to ask a lot of altruistic kidney donors
172
479960
3496
我曾問願意捐贈腎臟的人們：
08:15
how it is that they manage to generate
such a wide circle of compassion
such a wide circle of compassion
173
483480
4376
如何才能將自己的同情心的範圍擴大，
08:19
that they were willing to give
a complete stranger their kidney.
a complete stranger their kidney.
174
487880
3336
擴大到使他們願意將腎臟
捐給完全不認識的陌生人？
捐給完全不認識的陌生人？
08:23
And I found it's a really difficult
question for them to answer.
question for them to answer.
175
491240
3496
而我發現這對他們來說是非常困難的問題，
08:26
I say, "How is it that
you're willing to do this thing
you're willing to do this thing
176
494760
4056
我問：「是什麼讓你願意去做這件
08:30
when so many other people don't?
177
498840
1976
大多數人都不願意做的事？
08:32
You're one of fewer than 2,000 Americans
178
500840
2416
每2000位美國人中都不會有一位像你這樣
08:35
who has ever given a kidney to a stranger.
179
503280
2616
願意將腎臟捐給陌生人的人，
08:37
What is it that makes you so special?"
180
505920
1840
是什麼讓你變得如此特別？」
08:40
And what do they say?
181
508400
1280
他們怎麼說？
08:43
They say, "Nothing.
182
511400
1920
他們說：「沒什麼，
08:46
There's nothing special about me.
183
514200
1776
對我來說這沒什麼特別。
08:48
I'm just the same as everybody else."
184
516000
1799
我跟其他人都是一樣的。」
08:51
And I think that's actually
a really telling answer,
a really telling answer,
185
519200
3096
而我想，這確實就是真正的答案了，
08:54
because it suggests that the circles
of these altruists don't look like this,
of these altruists don't look like this,
186
522320
3840
因為正顯示出了，
這些人的人際圈看起來不像這樣，
這些人的人際圈看起來不像這樣，
08:59
they look more like this.
187
527240
1976
而是像這樣，
09:01
They have no center.
188
529240
1240
他們沒有中心自我。
09:03
These altruists literally
don't think of themselves
don't think of themselves
189
531320
2416
這些利他主義者不認為
09:05
as being at the center of anything,
190
533760
2256
自己是在任何事物的中心，
09:08
as being better or more inherently
important than anybody else.
important than anybody else.
191
536040
2960
他們並不覺得自己
比其他人更優秀或獨特。
比其他人更優秀或獨特。
09:12
When I asked one altruist
why donating her kidney made sense to her,
why donating her kidney made sense to her,
192
540000
3216
當我問一位利他主義者，
為什麼捐贈腎臟對她來說是正常的，
為什麼捐贈腎臟對她來說是正常的，
09:15
she said, "Because it's not about me."
193
543240
2720
她說：「因為這不只是關係到我自己。」
09:19
Another said,
194
547040
1736
另一位利他主義者說：
09:20
"I'm not different. I'm not unique.
195
548800
2256
「我跟其他人沒什麼不同，我並不是獨一無二。
09:23
Your study here is going to find out
that I'm just the same as you."
that I'm just the same as you."
196
551080
3336
你的研究中應該也發現了，其實我與你沒什麼不同。」
09:26
I think the best description
for this amazing lack of self-centeredness
for this amazing lack of self-centeredness
197
554440
4096
我認為對於這樣缺乏自我中心的性格，
最好的敘述是
最好的敘述是
09:30
is humility,
198
558560
1856
謙卑，
09:32
which is that quality
that in the words of St. Augustine
that in the words of St. Augustine
199
560440
3096
而謙卑二字正是使聖奧古斯丁，
09:35
makes men as angels.
200
563560
1520
最後成為天使的原因。
09:38
And why is that?
201
566120
1696
為什麼呢？
09:39
It's because if there's
no center of your circle,
no center of your circle,
202
567840
2776
因為如果你的人際圈中沒有中心，
09:42
there can be no inner rings
or outer rings,
or outer rings,
203
570640
2536
那就沒有內圈，也沒有外圈了，
09:45
nobody who is more or less worthy
of your care and compassion
of your care and compassion
204
573200
2896
沒有人更值得也沒有人不值得
你去表現同情心。
09:48
than anybody else.
205
576120
1200
09:49
And I think that this is what really
distinguishes extraordinary altruists
distinguishes extraordinary altruists
206
577920
3496
我認為這是最非凡利他者與一般人
09:53
from the average person.
207
581440
1240
最大的差異。
09:55
But I also think that this is a view
of the world that's attainable by many
of the world that's attainable by many
208
583400
3576
但我認為對大多數的人來說，
09:59
and maybe even most people.
209
587000
1976
這是一個崇高的願景。
10:01
And I think this
because at the societal level,
because at the societal level,
210
589000
2256
我認為從社會層面上來看，
10:03
expansions of altruism and compassion
are already happening everywhere.
are already happening everywhere.
211
591280
3720
利他主義及同情心已經擴張到每個角落。
10:07
The psychologist Steven Pinker
and others have shown
and others have shown
212
595920
2456
心理學家史迪芬．平克跟其他研究者表示，
10:10
that all around the world people
are becoming less and less accepting
are becoming less and less accepting
213
598400
3256
世界上的人們越來越難
10:13
of suffering in ever-widening
circles of others,
circles of others,
214
601680
2456
接受人際圈以外的人們受到折磨，
10:16
which has led to declines
of all kinds of cruelty and violence,
of all kinds of cruelty and violence,
215
604160
3056
所以許多殘忍、暴力的事件才會越來越少
10:19
from animal abuse to domestic violence
to capital punishment.
to capital punishment.
216
607240
3520
像是虐待動物、家庭暴力及死刑。
10:23
And it's led to increases
in all kinds of altruism.
in all kinds of altruism.
217
611480
2816
而各種利他行為越來越多。
10:26
A hundred years ago, people
would have thought it was ludicrous
would have thought it was ludicrous
218
614320
3096
一百多年前，人們認為
10:29
how normal and ordinary it is
219
617440
1496
捐贈血液及骨髓，
10:30
for people to donate
their blood and bone marrow
their blood and bone marrow
220
618960
3296
是非常荒謬可笑的事，
10:34
to complete strangers today.
221
622280
1640
但在今日，這項行為卻是相當普遍。
10:36
Is it possible that
a hundred years from now
a hundred years from now
222
624720
2096
也許在百年之後，
10:38
people will think
that donating a kidney to a stranger
that donating a kidney to a stranger
223
626840
2576
人們會認為捐讚腎臟給陌生人
10:41
is just as normal and ordinary
224
629440
1456
是一件再普通不過的事，
10:42
as we think donating blood
and bone marrow is today?
and bone marrow is today?
225
630920
3016
就像我們今日認為捐血跟骨髓很普通一樣。
10:45
Maybe.
226
633960
1200
或許，
10:47
So what's at the root
of all these amazing changes?
of all these amazing changes?
227
635800
2896
這些驚人變化的根源，
10:50
In part it seems to be
228
638720
1776
某部分或許是
10:52
increases in wealth
and standards of living.
and standards of living.
229
640520
3200
源自於財富的增加或生活水平的進步。
10:56
As societies become
wealthier and better off,
wealthier and better off,
230
644600
2736
社會變得更富有、更好，
10:59
people seem to turn
their focus of attention outward,
their focus of attention outward,
231
647360
2616
人們會開始將注意力轉向其他方面。
11:02
and as a result, all kinds of altruism
towards strangers increases,
towards strangers increases,
232
650000
3856
因此，對陌生人的利他行為增加了，
11:05
from volunteering to charitable donations
and even altruistic kidney donations.
and even altruistic kidney donations.
233
653880
4720
從志工服務、慷慨地捐錢甚至是捐出自己的腎臟。
11:11
But all of these changes also yield
234
659440
2976
但所有的改變都顯示
11:14
a strange and paradoxical result,
235
662440
3216
一個奇怪又矛盾的結果，
11:17
which is that even as the world is
becoming a better and more humane place,
becoming a better and more humane place,
236
665680
3536
世界正在變得更好更友善，
11:21
which it is,
237
669240
1216
然而，
11:22
there's a very common perception
that it's becoming worse
that it's becoming worse
238
670480
2696
大眾的理解是，世界變得更糟糕更暴力了，
11:25
and more cruel, which it's not.
239
673200
2040
這跟前面敘述的牴觸。
11:28
And I don't know exactly why this is,
240
676080
1816
我並不清楚為何會如此，
11:29
but I think it may be
that we now just know so much more
that we now just know so much more
241
677920
3576
但我認為可能是因為我們
11:33
about the suffering
of strangers in distant places,
of strangers in distant places,
242
681520
3176
只能在能力範圍內，關心我們所知正在受苦的人們，
11:36
and so we now care a lot more
243
684720
2416
而如今的我們能夠知道
11:39
about the suffering
of those distant strangers.
of those distant strangers.
244
687160
2200
更遙遠的地方還有更多痛苦的人。
11:42
But what's clear is the kinds
of changes we're seeing show
of changes we're seeing show
245
690240
3696
但明顯的事，我們看到的現況表現出
11:45
that the roots of altruism and compassion
246
693960
2456
利他及同情心的根源，
11:48
are just as much a part of human nature
as cruelty and violence,
as cruelty and violence,
247
696440
3016
其實與人類的殘忍及暴力是相去不遠的，
11:51
maybe even more so,
248
699480
1696
或許同情心還比較多一些，
11:53
and while some people do seem
to be inherently more sensitive
to be inherently more sensitive
249
701200
4056
某些人與生俱有較強的感受力
11:57
to the suffering of distant others,
250
705280
2096
去體會他人的痛苦。
11:59
I really believe that the ability
to remove oneself
to remove oneself
251
707400
2776
我相信將自我移除於圓圈中心的能力，
12:02
from the center of the circle
252
710200
1776
我相信將自我移除於圓圈中心的能力，
12:04
and expand the circle of compassion
outward to include even strangers
outward to include even strangers
253
712000
4056
並且將圓圈及同情心擴展出去，
納入陌生人們的能力
納入陌生人們的能力
12:08
is within reach for almost everyone.
254
716080
2800
就存於每個人身上。
12:12
Thank you.
255
720080
1216
謝謝大家。
12:13
(Applause)
256
721320
7578
（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Abigail Marsh - PsychologistAbigail Marsh asks essential questions: If humans are evil, why do we sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to help others even at a cost to ourselves?
Why you should listen
How do we understand what others think and feel? An associate professor in the department of psychology and the interdisciplinary neuroscience program at Georgetown University, Abigail Marsh focuses on social and affective neuroscience. She addresses questions using multiple approaches that include functional and structural brain imaging in adolescents and adults from both typical and non-typical populations, as well as behavioral, cognitive, genetic and pharmacological techniques. Among her ongoing research projects are brain imaging and behavioral studies of altruistic kidney donors and brain imaging studies of children/adolescents with severe conduct problems and limited empathy.
Marsh's 2017 book The Fear Factor: How One Emotion Connects Altruists, Psychopaths, and Everyone In-Between explores the extremes of human generosity and cruelty.
Abigail Marsh | Speaker | TED.com