TED演讲:科技并没有改变爱 为什么?(5)

 But technology is producing one modern trend that I find particularly important. 但科技正在制造一种当代潮流，我认为它尤为重要。

It's associated with the concept of paradox¹ of choice. 它和选择悖论这一概念相关。

For millions of years, we lived in little hunting and gathering² groups. 千万年来，人类都生活在小型狩猎及采集社会。

You didn't have the opportunity to choose between 1,000 people on a dating site. 那时的人没有机会在社交网站上千里挑一选择对象。

In fact, I've been studying this recently, and I actually think there's some sort of sweet spot in the brain; 事实上，从我最近对此的研究来看，我认为大脑中有某种“最佳状态点”。

I don't know what it is, but apparently³, from reading a lot of the data, we can embrace about five to nine alternatives, 虽然我并不知道在哪儿，但从大量数据来看，人类只能接受大概5~9个选项，

and after that, you get into what academics call "cognitive⁴ overload⁵," and you don't choose any. 在此之后会变成某些学者称的“认知超载”，结果是不再做出选择。

So I've come to think that due to this cognitive overload, we're ushering⁶ in a new form of courtship that I call "slow love." 于是，我想正是由于这种认知超载，我们引进了一种新型求爱方式，我称其为“慢慢爱”。

I arrived at this during my work with Match.com. 这些都是我在Match.com工作时总结出来的。

Every year for the last six years, we've done a study called "Singles in America." 过去六年中我们做了一项研究，名为“美国单身”。

We don't poll the Match population, we poll the American population. 我们民调的对象不仅针对Match.com的会员，而是整个美国人口。

We use 5,000-plus people, a representative sample of Americans based on the US census⁷. 我们调查了5000多人，这是基于美国统计局的代表性样本。

We've got data now on over 30,000 people, and every single year, I see some of the same patterns. 目前已收集了超过3万人的数据。每年我都看到同样的模式。

Every single year when I ask the question, over 50 percent of people have had a one-night stand 每年我向他们提问的结果是，超过50%的人有一夜情的经历，

not necessarily last year, but in their lives -- 50 percent have had a friends with benefits during the course of their lives, 并不一定是上一年，而是他们一生中，在他们的有生之年，50%的人曾经和朋友上过床。

and over 50 percent have lived with a person long-term before marrying. 超过50%的人在婚前有过长期同居的经历。

Americans think that this is reckless. I have doubted that for a long time; the patterns are too strong. 美国人认为这是轻率的行为。但我一直不这么认为，毕竟这种模式太普遍。

There's got to be some Darwinian explanation -- Not that many people are crazy. 肯定有某种类似于达尔文生物进化的地方，总不会是那么多人都丧失了理智？

1 paradox   

n.似乎矛盾却正确的说法；自相矛盾的人(物)

参考例句：

• The story contains many levels of paradox.这个故事存在多重悖论。
• The paradox is that Japan does need serious education reform.矛盾的地方是日本确实需要教育改革。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

5 overload   

vt.使超载；n.超载

参考例句：

• Don't overload the boat or it will sink.别超载，否则船会沉。
• Large meals overload the digestive system.吃得太饱会加重消化系统的负担。

6 ushering   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They were right where the coach-caller was swinging open a coach-door and ushering in two ladies. "他们走到外面时，叫马车的服务员正打开车门，请两位小姐上车。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Immediately the two of them approached others, thanking them, ushering them out one by one. 他们俩马上走到其他人面前，向他们道谢，一个个送走了他们。 来自辞典例句

7 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。