题型:阅读理解 题类:常考题 难易度:普通
广东省深圳实验学校高中部2019-2020学年高一下学期英语第一阶段测试卷
O'Brien and Samantha Kassirer from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management conducted two experiments to determine the levels of people's happiness when they gave away money or when they spent it on themselves.
The first experiment involved 96 college students receiving $5 every day for five days. They had to spend the money on the same thing each day. Researchers randomly asked the participants to either spend the money on themselves or give it to someone else, like through a tip or an online donation to charity. The participants ended each day by reflecting on their spending experience and their overall level of happiness. Regardless of how they spent the money, everyone started off with roughly the same level of self-reported happiness. Those who spent the money on themselves, however, experienced a decline in happiness over the five-day period. The people who gave the money to someone else maintained their happiness levels.
A second experiment, this one conducted online, involved 502 people playing 10 rounds of a word puzzle game. Each round the player won, they received 5 cents. The participants could either keep the 5 cents or donate it to a charity. After each round, people rated the level of happiness they felt after winning a round. As with the first study, those who gave away the money reported a longer stretch of happiness than those who kept the money for themselves.
As for why people who used the money for themselves aren't as happy as long, the researchers explain that focusing on an outcome — like getting paid — can diminish (削弱) the experience. When people focused on an action — like giving to charity — they concentrate more on the act itself as a joyful event, explaining why happiness stayed more consistent among those who spent the money on others. "If you want to sustain happiness over time, our new research shows that repeated giving, even in the same way to the same people, may make you continue to feel much fresher and more enjoyable," Ed O'Brien said.
So the next time you think about spending on yourself, maybe give it to someone in need instead. Your happiness will thank you.
试题篮