The Mathematical Marriage Predictor
倫敦:一位數(shù)學(xué)家說(shuō),他可以94%的準(zhǔn)確率來(lái)預(yù)測(cè)某對(duì)新婚夫婦是否會(huì)享有長(zhǎng)久的婚姻。西雅圖華盛頓大學(xué)數(shù)學(xué)教授默里說(shuō)他發(fā)明的兩個(gè)公式基于一項(xiàng)為期10年對(duì)700對(duì)美國(guó)夫婦進(jìn)行的研究。心理學(xué)家要對(duì)新婚夫婦之間的15分鐘談話加以觀察,默里說(shuō)道,夫婦間對(duì)諸如性、撫養(yǎng)子女和錢(qián)等問(wèn)題相互交流的能力會(huì)通過(guò)一種尺度來(lái)衡量,對(duì)那些好的表示,如微笑、親昵的姿態(tài),就可以加分;對(duì)那些不好的表示,如不耐煩地轉(zhuǎn)眼睛、嘲笑、冷漠,則減分。"我們使用廣為接受的一種心理學(xué)測(cè)量體系來(lái)評(píng)分,比如輕蔑的態(tài)度減3分,幽默加2分。"默里對(duì)倫敦的《每日電訊報(bào)》說(shuō)道。這些分值接著被轉(zhuǎn)換為代數(shù)語(yǔ)言,從而使該項(xiàng)研究的創(chuàng)始者們進(jìn)行離婚預(yù)測(cè)。這些數(shù)據(jù)被放到兩個(gè)方程式中進(jìn)行計(jì)算———一個(gè)是丈夫的,一個(gè)是妻子的。對(duì)這些夫婦每?jī)赡暾{(diào)查一次,而預(yù)測(cè)哪對(duì)夫婦的婚姻會(huì)失敗的模型幾乎是完全準(zhǔn)確。
Want to know if your marriage is going to last? Learn about the mathematical marriage predictor on this Moment of Science.
You might not think that mathematicians(數(shù)學(xué)家) have anything particularly relevant to say about your love life. But you’d be wrong–if we’re talking about James Murray, a mathematician at the University of Washington in Seattle who (1)teamed up(合作) with Psychologist John Gottman to explore the rocky road(坎坷崎嶇的路) of romance.
Here’s what the two did. They (2)videotaped(將…錄到錄像帶上) hundreds of volunteer couples discussing such things as sex and money. You know–the sorts of things on which everybody always agrees, right?
Then they (3)broke down(分解) behavioral responses to these high-pressure(高壓的) discussions into recognizable(可辨認(rèn)的,可認(rèn)識(shí)的) groups, such as whether partner A can be persuaded by partner B, or whether partner A (4)takes offense(生氣) when partner B makes a cutting(尖刻的) remark.
A set of equations(方程式,等式) was (5)drawn up(草擬,起草) that represented the interactions(相互作用) of these different factors in mathematical form, leading to…Ding!…a prediction as to whether this marriage would last. Sound like a stretch? Think you can’t possibly tell that much about a couple from a single interview and some calculations?
Four years later Murray and Gottman did a follow-up(隨訪,跟進(jìn)) to see whether the equation had made the right prediction. It sure had–their Mathematical Marriage Predictor was right an astonishing(令人驚訝的) ninety-four percent of the time.
Some conspicuous(顯著的,顯而易見(jiàn)的) findings included the fact that, in marriages that lasted, laughing occurred five times more frequently than in couples (6)destined for(駛往;去往) break-up. The team also found that the one behavior that most consistently( 一貫地) predicted divorce was the appearance of a contemptuous(輕蔑的) or mocking(嘲弄的) facial expression on one partner’s face when the other one spoke.
According to the Mathematical Marriage Predictor, it’s “roll your eyes and say goodbyes.”
Notes:
(1)team up v.合作;結(jié)成一隊(duì);協(xié)作
The two universities have teamed up for a research project.
兩所大學(xué)已在某一科研項(xiàng)目上進(jìn)行協(xié)作。
(2)videotape ['vidi?uteip] n.錄像帶 vt.將…錄到錄像帶上
1.Videotape a performance of the advertisement to view for yourselves.
從表演的廣告錄像帶看自己的表現(xiàn)。
2.Stiles is accused of molesting a three-year-old girl and recording it on videotape.
并被指控調(diào)戲一位僅三歲的小女孩,調(diào)戲過(guò)程被記錄在錄像帶上。
(3)break down 分解;發(fā)生故障;失敗;毀掉;制服
1.The bridge broke down in last earthquake.
那座橋在上次地震中坍塌了。
2.Break down barriers between Departments.
打破部門(mén)間的障礙。
(4)take offense生氣
Please don't take offense. Iwanted to tell you what I think.
請(qǐng)你別生氣,我只是想把我的想法告訴你了。
(5)draw up草擬,起草;停住;使靠近
1.The boat was drawn up on the shore.
這條小船被拉上了海灘。
2.Second, draw up an outline.
第二步起草一個(gè)提綱。
(6)destined for駛往;去往
1.The ships were destined for Cuba.
那些船是開(kāi)往古巴的。
2.You are destined for a life of travel and fun.
你希望一個(gè)能到處旅行和充滿樂(lè)趣的一生。