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VOA慢速英语2016--你认为你可以吗?

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(单词翻译)

Do You Think You Can? 你认为你可以吗?

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

Willpower is a mysterious force that helps us to control our actions and achieve our goals. We also call willpower determination, drive and self-control.

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines1 willpower this way:

Willpower is the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals.

Willpower allows us to ignore unwanted thoughts, feelings or desires.

Willpower is a limited resource that you can use up.

That last part is important. The theory that our willpower is limited is where psychology2 experts are divided.

For many years in the world of psychology, the widely accepted theory has been that our willpower – our self-control – is limited. If we are not careful, we can use up our willpower before a task is completed or before a goal is reached.

Psychologists who believe that willpower is a limited resource say using up our willpower is the main reason some of us fail to achieve our goals.

However, in recent years, other psychologists have challenged this theory. A new theory says that the amount of our available willpower is affected3 by our attitudes about willpower.

But first, let’s go back to the “limited supply” theory.

The Chocolate-and-Radish Experiment

An experiment back in the 1990s formed the popular theory in psychology that your willpower is limited. The experiment is known as the Chocolate-and-Radish Experiment.

Researchers put 67 study subjects in a room that smelled of freshly baked chocolate cookies.

Sounds good, right?

Wrong.

Instead of warm, rich chocolate cookies, researchers gave one group radishes4 to eat – cold, bitter radishes. The other group of subjects ate the chocolate cookies.

Then researchers asked both groups to solve a difficult puzzle.

The group that ate the radishes gave up on the puzzle after 9 minutes. The group that ate chocolate cookies worked twice as long on figuring out the puzzle.

The researchers concluded that the group that resisted the chocolate cookies had used up their willpower. Willpower is like a muscle that can lose strength and tire.

Other experiments that support this theory have found that willpower is like a hungry child in need of a “sugar fix.” When we use our willpower, it robs our brain of energy, or glucose5. So, feeding the brain a little sugar when doing a difficult task helps you to fill up your willpower resource.

The new theory on willpower

But a new theory contradicts7 the idea that willpower is limited and can be charged up with sugar.

Carol Dweck is a professor of psychology at Stanford University. In 2013 she and her team asked 87 college students in Germany, Switzerland and the United States to describe their beliefs on willpower.

Some said they believed willpower is a limited resource. Others said they believed willpower was plentiful8 and even increases the more it is used.

Dweck then asked the study subjects to complete a difficult mental task. This first task was followed by a second that required the subject to resist an impulse9 and use their willpower.

Dweck described the results in an interview with LiveScience. She said those who believed their willpower was limited grew tired after the first task. They performed poorly on the second task. But, if they received a sugary drink before the second task, they performed better.

Dweck also said that people who believed willpower is limited were always looking for signs that they were running out of willpower, or they thought they needed the sugar fix.

However, the study subjects who believed willpower was unlimited10 did not tire during the second task and they did not need a sugar boost11.

Dweck said the results suggest that willpower is not in limited supply. Instead, it is people’s beliefs about willpower that shape their behavior.

She and her team published their findings in August of 2013 in the journal The Proceedings12 of the National Academy of Sciences.

Tips how to use your willpower – limited or not

But what do all these studies mean to you?

Regardless of what you believe, the American Psychological Association website has advice for people trying to achieve their goals.

Avoid Temptations. If you believe that your willpower is limited, remove outside temptations. This way you will not waste your willpower. As the expression goes, “out of sight, out of mind.”

Make a Plan. For example, if you have to study over the weekend, set aside a certain period of time to get your work done. But also make time for fun, too.

Think about your motivations. Are your goals your own or someone else’s? Studies and common sense suggest that people who pursue goals that are their own are more motivated to reach them.

Focus on one goal at a time. Many push their willpower too much. They try to quit smoking, save money, lose weight and get a better job all at the same time. This may use up their willpower, if they believe in the “limited supply” theory. Instead, focus on one goal at a time.

Think you can! There is evidence to support that if you believe you can do it, you can. A little positive thinking goes a long way!

Words in This Story

determination – n. a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult

resist – v. to fight against (something) : to try to stop or prevent (something)

temptation – n. a strong urge or desire to have or do something

contradict6 – v. to say the opposite of (something that someone else has said) : to deny the truth of (something)

impulse – n. a sudden strong desire to do something

focus – n. a main purpose or interest

motivation – n. a force or influence that causes someone to do something


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 defines e5ce027803090c376e63626f7fc5c76b     
规定( define的第三人称单数 ); 使明确; 精确地解释; 画出…的线条
参考例句:
  • This name defines us all. 这个名字造就了我们。 来自演讲部分
  • The range of incomes over which this happens defines the 'poverty trap'. 发生在这种情况的收入范围,称为“贫困陷阱。”
2 psychology U0Wze     
n.心理,心理学,心理状态
参考例句:
  • She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
  • He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。
3 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
4 radishes 1d9ebc63ce653d8a01d70c8b4d0cfdcb     
n.(做色拉用的)小萝卜( radish的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a bunch of radishes 一捆萝卜
  • These radishes of mine taste as good as pears. 我这萝卜赛梨。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5 glucose Fyiyz     
n.葡萄糖
参考例句:
  • I gave him an extra dose of glucose to pep him up.我给他多注射了一剂葡萄糖以增强他的活力。
  • The doctor injected glucose into his patient's veins.医生将葡萄糖注入病人的静脉。
6 contradict HpgzU     
vt.反驳,否认...的真实性,与...发生矛盾
参考例句:
  • Young children should never contradict what their parents say.孩子们绝对不应顶撞父母。
  • They contradict each other all the time.他们总是相互抵触。
7 contradicts 54435e42763fae638b6d8c2284d287b1     
v.反驳,否认…的真实性( contradict的第三人称单数 );与…发生矛盾,与…抵触
参考例句:
  • He will jump on anyone who contradicts him. 谁不同意他,他就骂谁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • His statement contradicts with the facts. 他所说的话与事实矛盾。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
8 plentiful r2izH     
adj.富裕的,丰富的
参考例句:
  • Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
  • Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。
9 impulse 6cWzP     
n.(一时的)冲动,冲力,脉冲,神经冲动
参考例句:
  • She wrote that letter on impulse.她一时冲动写了这封信。
  • I don't know how to resist my impulse.我不知道怎样抑制自己的感情冲动。
10 unlimited MKbzB     
adj.无限的,不受控制的,无条件的
参考例句:
  • They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
  • There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。
11 boost XtHzU     
n.鼓励,激励,提高;v.鼓励,使增强信心
参考例句:
  • This will be a great boost to the economy.这对于经济发展将是一个巨大的促进。
  • These changes will help to boost share prices.这些变化将有助于提高股票价格。
12 proceedings Wk2zvX     
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报
参考例句:
  • He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
  • to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

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