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Understanding the Tribe Mind 部落意识：团体中的小圈圈

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课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

For many young people, college is the first time they have been away from home. In a new, unfamiliar environment, it’s no wonder students gravitate towards people with a background similar to their own. After all, it’s easy to relate to someone who is like ourselves. It’s unlikely that a student who drinks, smokes, and enjoys going to parties will identify with somebody who enjoys studying in the library or doing experiments in a laboratory.

对许多年轻人而言，进大学常常是他们的第一次离家经验。在一个陌生的新环境中，大学生自然而然与和自己背景相似的同学聚在一起。毕竟，找出自己的同类还是比较容易的。喜欢喝酒、抽烟、参加派对的学生，不太可能与喜欢在图书馆念书、在实验室做实验的人在一起。

Although universities boast a diverse mix of ethnic groups and viewpoints, students are still clustered in their “college tribes.” The members of these tribes are often unwilling to mix with those outside their groups. Sometimes, students go through hazing to prove their loyalty to a tribe. Hazing involves forcing an initiate to endure or perform embarrassing acts.

虽然大学号称可包容各种观点和族群，学生仍喜欢聚集成一个个小圈圈。同一圈的成员可能不愿意与「圈外人士」交往。有时候，为了测试新入会者对团体的忠诚度，会刻意戏弄设计该学生，这些戏弄包括要求新入会者忍受或表演一些难为情的行为。

College tribalism is an established part of campus life. But for social scientists, it offers clues to a fundamental and puzzling aspect of human nature: the need to feel that one is a part of “us.” College tribes shed light on how the tribal mind works. By understanding tribalism, we can better understand why and how our world – with all its colors, creeds, classes, and culture – is divided or united.

大学部落是校园生活的基态。但是，透过这个观察，社会学科学家却因此更了解人性中难以捉摸又根本的一面：人需要团体归属感。大学部落可使我们更了解部落心理的运作方式。更了解部落意识，就会更知道这个世界？什么或如何分分合合了（不管是颜色、教条、阶级、文化）。

Vocabulary

单词发音

gravitate [ˋgrævə͵tet] v. 被吸引 to be attracted by or as if by an irresistible force

relate to 与...和睦相处, 融洽 to understand, accept, or feel kinship with someone

identify [aɪˋdɛntə͵faɪ] v.  认同; 使参与；使合作[（+with）] to establish an identification with another or others

cluster [ˋklʌstɚ] v. 丛生；群集

hazing [ˋhezɪŋ] n.【美】（指大一学生的）被欺侮

initiate [ɪˋnɪʃɪɪt] n. 新加入者 a beginner; novice

tribalism [ˋtraɪb!ɪzəm] n. 部落意识

shed light on 阐明，解释清楚 make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear

creed [krid] n. 教义，信条

课文讲解

People are seldom aware that they’re joining a tribe. Such a merging process can happen rapidly, and often subconsciously. When people join a group, they automatically accept its biases and values. Biologist Robert Sapolsky points out that people also readily accept the rivalry between tribes, even if this rivalry is obviously irrational.

人很少意识到自己已经加入了部落。这种加入团队的过程可能很快速，而且通常是潜意识作用之下而加入。当加入一个团体，会不由自主接受该团体的偏见和价值观。生物学家罗伯特．萨波斯基指出，人们欣然接受与团体间相互对抗的行为，即使这种对抗行为是显然不理性的。

Inevitably, a sense of “us” brings with it a sense of “them.” On the collegiate level, science students often disparage liberal arts students as “fuzzies” who do not deal with reality. After college, this sense of superiority remains. Lawyers and doctors look down on engineers and construction workers. White collar jobs are considered higher class than blue collar jobs, even if a carpenter earns a higher salary than an office worker.

大学时期，因为文学院学生的科目多为抽象而不具体的，理学院学生常因此轻视文学院学生，而称他们「不切实际的家伙」。大学毕业之后，这一类的优越感还是存在的。律师和医生较看不起工程师和建筑工人；即使木匠的薪水比上班族的高，白领阶级的人仍然认为自己比蓝领阶级高一等。

Itcomes down to the fact that humans want and need to belong to a group. Association with a group gives us a sense of safety and solidarity. Biologist Peter Richerson argues that people feel it necessary to acquire clearly defined roles. Within a group, they can be sure of their social status and know what is expected of them. Just as wolves hunt in packs, and birds fly in flocks, it is only human nature for us to live in tribes.

这一切都归结到一个事实──人类需要归属感。与团体产生关联会使我们有安全及稳定感。另一个生物学家彼得．理雀森提出另一观点，人们觉得明确定义自己的角色是必要的。在团体内，人们才能确认自己的社会地位和社会对自己的期望。就如同狼群一同觅食、鸟群共同飞行，人类的天性就是要生活在团体之中。

－by Riberto Azula

Vocabulary

单词发音

merge [mɝdʒ] v. 融合；同化

subconsciously [͵sʌbˋkɑnʃəslɪ] adv. 潜意识地

rivalry [ˋraɪv!rɪ] n. 竞争行为；对抗行为

collegiate [kəˋlidʒɪɪt] adj. 大学生的

disparage [dɪˋspærɪdʒ] v. 【正式】贬低﹐诋毁 express a negative opinion of

fuzzy [ˋfʌzɪ] n. 不切实际的人muddleheaded or incoherent

look down on 轻视 to consider someone or something as not important or of value

solidarity [͵sɑləˋdærətɪ] n. 团结; 团结一致 a union of interests, purposes, or sympathies among members of a group

pack [pæk] n.（猎犬，野兽，飞机，舰艇等的）一群