一起聽英語 212 生氣

人的情緒喜怒哀樂，生氣是最難控制的情緒，如何處理自己的負面情緒并且不影響到他人，這是門大學問。

Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com. My

name is Rob and I'm joined in the studio by Jennifer.

Jennifer: Hello.

Rob: In today's programme we are talking about anger – that's the strong

feeling you get when you feel someone has treated you badly or unfairly.

Does that sound familiar Jen?

Jennifer: Oh yes. There are many things that make me lose my temper – usually

just things that annoy me.

Rob: We'll hear what they are soon and we'll look at why some research says

our modern life is making us angrier. But first, keep calm Jen and see if

you can answer today's question.

Jennifer: It's OK Rob, I'm in a good mood – I feel happy – so let me have it!

Rob: OK. In a BBC survey, what was found to be the thing that made British

people most annoyed? Was it:

a) Someone jumping the queue

b) Delays on public transport

c) Being kept on hold by a call centre

Jennifer: I'll go for c) being kept on hold by a call centre because that's very

annoying.

Rob: OK, well, we'll find out if you're right at the end of the programme. Jen,

you say that annoys you, does anything else annoy or anger you?

Jennifer: Public transport annoys me but it's the passengers that I find most

annoying especially when they push and shove and cram onto a train. How

about you Rob?

Rob: Well, for me, it's got to be rudeness. It really makes my blood boil when

people who work in shops are rude to me, the customer – it is as if they

don't want me to buy anything! But I suppose that is quite small

compared with things that used to make us angry.

Jennifer: Yes. Humans developed the feeling of anger as a basic survival skill – the

emotion of anger helped us to do things – so hunger would make us angry

and that would make us to look for food.

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Rob: Interesting stuff. But now we start fuming – so we get very angry – by

just small things which aren't that important. This is according to new

research published by the University of Central Lancashire in the UK.

Jennifer: The research found people today are angrier than ever. And Doctor Sandi

Mann from the university says it is modern life that's to blame.

Rob: Well, let's hear from her now. What words does she use to describe what

modern life is like?

Dr Sandi Mann, Senior Psychology Lecturer, University of Central Lancashire:

Stress levels are that much higher these days. We've got so much more fast-paced life,

more going on – more stress, more ongoing frustrations rather than the big stresses.

Rob: So, she says modern life is fast-paced – we do things quickly and we

have more going on – so we do lots of activities. Well, that's probably

true.

Jennifer: Yes. I have to go to the gym, meet my friends, go shopping and fit in work

and sleep too. That can lead to stress – that's feeling nervous or worried

– I just can't relax!

Rob: It's odd that all the time we are trying to find time to relax – but we get

stressed trying to do that. As Doctor Mann says, there are so many

frustrations. These are the feelings we get when we are stopped from

doing what we want to do. Arggggh!

Jennifer: Rob calm down – you're seeing a red mist – a feeling of anger that stops

you thinking clearly. I think the problem is, perhaps, that we are all trying

to do too much.

Rob: Well, Doctor Mann believes – certainly in the Western world – that our

expectations have been raised. Now we expect things to be perfect. So, if

your Wi-Fi connection doesn't work as it should, or your train is two

minutes' late, we stamp our feet like children. We want things and we

want them now!

Jennifer: And sometimes we get angry with other people. Have you done that Rob?

Rob: Oh yes! I curse – or think bad things about people who take so long

getting through the ticket barriers at the station when I have a train to

catch! I only get angry on the inside, I don't actually shout at them but it

still makes me mad.

Jennifer: Well, I think the solution is to allow more time to do things or do less. But

I think the angriest people probably need anger management. That's

training or therapy on how to control your anger or aggression.

Rob: Hmm, I don't think I'm ready for that yet. But let's see if you can keep

your cool Jen when I reveal the answer to today's question. Earlier I asked

you, according to a BBC survey, what was found to be the thing that made

British people most annoyed?

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Jennifer: And I said c) being kept on hold by a call centre.

Rob: And you are right. Yes, the survey found that being kept on hold by a call

centre, particularly for a long time, was the thing most likely to make

people angry. Interestingly, the survey also found more women than men

- almost three-quarters compared to two-thirds - said they took a deep

breath to calm down. Well, take a deep breath now Jen and please remind

us of some of the words that we've heard today.

Jennifer: Here goes. We heard:

anger

lose my temper

makes my blood boil

fuming

fast-paced

stress

frustrations

red mist

curse

anger management

aggression

Rob: Thanks. Time now to chill out, relax and say goodbye from 6 Minute

English from BBC Learning English.

Both: Bye!