【英语时差8,16】增加自信

 Don: Yael, every day I grow closer to my goal of mind control.

Yael: What do you mean, Don?

D: Check out this study from Ohio State University that says nodding your head to signal approval and shaking your head to signal disapproval¹ not only lets others know what you're thinking, but also influences your own thoughts. So I figure, I'll just tell our listeners to nod their heads while listening to our show, and then unleash² the propaganda!

Y: Whoa, there, Don. The study you're talking about never suggested that shaking or nodding your head actually changes your thoughts.

D: It doesn't?

Y: No. The study found that if you nod your head, even if you do it on purpose, you become more confident about your own thoughts, and if you shake it, you become less confident about them. For example, the study's participants were instructed to listen to one of two editorials--one which was well-argued, and one which wasn't. When asked about it later, those participants who nodded their heads while listening agreed more strongly with the good editorial...

D: See, it is brainwashing!

Y: ...and disagreed more strongly with the poorly reasoned editorial. By nodding, they confirmed their thoughts, positive or negative. And the same thing happened when people were asked to write with their dominant³ hand, and then with their non- dominant hand. When asked how confident they felt about the ideas they wrote down, those participants who wrote with their dominant hand felt more confident than those who didn't.

D: Okay, Yael. Let's try it. Nod your head yes and I'll tell you how great I am.

Y: Give it up, Don!

D: Rats, foiled again!  

1 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

2 unleash   

vt.发泄，发出；解带子放开

参考例句：

• They hope to create allies to unleash against diseases,pests,and invasive species.他们希望创造出一些新群体来对付疾病、害虫和一些有侵害性的物种。
• Changing water levels now at times unleash a miasma of disease from exposed sewage.如今，大坝不时地改变水位，从暴露的污水释放出了疾病瘴气。

3 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。