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Pearls of Social Wisdom 社会必修课：SQ

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

A nurse’s ability to comfort a patient with the touch of her hand; a teacher’s talent for commanding the eager attention of all his students; a diplomat’s skill in relaxing tension in a heated situation. These are the markings of a unique kind of understanding known as social intelligence.

护士用手触摸安抚病患的能力；教师赢得学生全神贯注的天分；外交官在愈演愈烈的情势中化解紧张气氛的技巧。这些都显示出一种独特的理解力，称之为「社会智商」。

Social intelligence, or SQ, comes as a natural extension to what we already know about the brain. Human intelligence used to be measured solely on a person’s IQ, but in the mid-1990s, Dr. Daniel Goleman introduced the world to a new type of intelligence called EQ. This evaluates our ability to effectively assess and manage our emotions. Now with SQ, Goleman looks at how our emotions affect others, as well as our ability to successfully handle emotionally-charged social interactions.

社会智商，简称SQ，是我们对大脑既有知识的自然延伸。以前只用智商IQ来衡量人类的智能，可是在1990年代中期，丹尼尔．高曼博士让世界认识一种新的智能，名为「情绪智商」EQ。它可以衡量我们能否有效评估及管理我们情绪的能力。现在高曼用SQ来探讨我们的情绪如何影响他人，以及我们能否成功处理有强烈情绪之社交互动的能力。

Goleman’s own life provides ample proof that author believes in practicing what he preaches. After their divorce, both he and his ex-wife remarried, and retained joint custody over their two children. When career moves required relocation, the two couples and the kids decided to make the move – together. While other divorced couple may struggle just to maintain a civil relationship, they were able to use their social intelligence to collectively decide what would be in the best interest of the children.

高曼自己的生活便有充分的证明这位作者是个深信以身作则之道的人。他和前妻离婚后都各自再婚，对两名子女行使共同监护权。因工作调动需要搬家时，两对夫妻和两个孩子都决定要搬家──一起搬。当其他离婚夫妻连维持客气的关系都很困难的时候，他们却能够运用他们的社会智商来一起决定对孩子最有利的事情。

Vocabulary

单词发音

diplomat [ˋdɪpləmæt] n. 外交官

solely [ˋsollɪ] adv. 仅仅；完全

evaluate [ɪˋvæljʊ͵et] v. 评估﹐评价

interaction [͵ɪntəˋrækʃən] n. 互动

collectively [kəˋlɛktɪvlɪ] adv. 集体地﹐共同地

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单词发音

intelligence [ɪnˋtɛlədʒəns] n. 智力; 理解力

IQ (Intelligence Quotient) [ˋkwoʃənt] 智力商数

EQ (Emotional Quotient) 情绪商数

assess [əˋsɛs] v. 评价; 评定

charged [tʃɑrdʒd] adj. 可能引起激烈反应的

ample [ˋæmp!] adj. 大量的，丰富的，充裕的

preach [pritʃ] v. 鼓吹，宣扬

joint custody [ˋkʌstədɪ] 共同监护权

relocation [riloˋkeʃən] n. 改换所在地

civil relationship  民事关系

课文朗读

课文讲解

Such social smartness is vital to our well-being, especially considering that our emotions are contagious – good brings about good and bad brings about bad. Scientists say these emotional contagions are the result of “mirror neurons,” our brain-to-brain exchange with another person's emotions in any given interaction. For example, if someone is hostile towards us, then we are likely to absorb that hostility. Alternatively, if we feel comfortable in a social situation, that sense of ease will be passed on to those around us.

这样的社会智商攸关我们能否快乐，尤其因为我们的情绪具感染力──好吸引好，坏吸引坏。科学家表示，这些情绪感染是「镜像神经元」──我们在任何互动中与他人脑部情绪的交流──所作用的结果。举例来说，如果有人对我们心怀敌意，我们便可能吸收到那股敌意。如果我们在某个社交情境中感到自在，那种自在感也会传递给我们周遭的人。

Interestingly, Goleman’s ideas on how to increase our social intelligence are largely based on face-to-face, body-to-body interaction – a tall order in today’s world of cell phones, e-mails, and social networking sites. Goleman sees these modern devices as a threat to the quality of our relationships, and thinks the human connection is in danger of being lost in the digital void. These distractions in our increasingly fast-paced world take away from what Goleman calls “the human moment,” that vital emotional presence we derive from genuine social interaction.

有趣的是，高曼对于如何增加社会智商的想法，大部分都是建立在面对面、身体对身体的互动──在手机、电子邮件、社交网站盛行的今天，这简直是一种苛求。高曼认为这些现代装置会威胁到我们人际关系的质量，他也认为人际关系在数字虚无中有迷失的危险。在步调越来越快的世界里，这些让人分心的事物会把我们从真正的社交互动中所获得的重要情绪体验，也就是从高曼所谓的「人性时刻」中夺走。

His advice? Take time each day to turn off your cell phone, your computer, the television, and any other distractions, and interact with those around you in a meaningful, unhurried fashion. Listen to them carefully, and give them your full attention. And smile – that’s one contagious habit everyone wants.

那么他有什么建议？每天拨空关掉手机、计算机、电视、和任何其他会让人分心的事物，并和周围的人以有意义、从容的方式互动。仔细地倾听他们，对他们全神贯注。然后微笑──那是每个人都想拥有的具感染力的习惯。

−by Anita Wong

Vocabulary

单词发音

vital [ˋvaɪt!] adj. 极其重要的

contagious [kənˋtedʒəs] adj.（感情等）感染性的；会蔓延的

absorb [əbˋsɔrb] v. 吸收

device [dɪˋvaɪs] n. 设备，装置

distraction [dɪˋstrækʃən] n. 分心; 使人分心的事物

More Information

单词发音

smartness [ˋsmɑrtnɪs] n. 机灵

well-being [ˋwɛlˋbiɪŋ] n. 幸福

contagion [kənˋtedʒən] n.（情绪、思想等的）感染

hostile [ˋhɑstaɪl] / [ˋhɑst!] adj. 怀敌意的；不友善的

hostility [hɑsˋtɪlətɪ] n. 敌意

alternatively [ɔlˋtɝnə͵tɪvlɪ] adv. 或者 on the other hand

pass on 传递

tall order【口】困难的任务, 无理的要求 a formidable task or requirement

void [vɔɪd] n. 空虚感; 孤寂感

derive [dɪˋraɪv] v. 取得，得到[（+from）]

Reading Questions

1. According to the article, what is the difference between EQ and SQ?

A. EQ measures how our emotions affect other people.

B. SQ looks at how our emotions relate to our IQ.

C. SQ deals with our interactions with others.

D. EQ studies emotions, whereas SQ studies society.

2. How does/did Dr. Goleman demonstrate SQ in his own life?

A. He retains joint custody over his children.

B. He moved in with his ex-wife for the sake of their children.

C. He maintains excellent communication with his ex-wife.

D. He changed jobs and relocated to be closer to his children.

3. According to the article, how do “mirror neurons” affect our social interactions?

A. They make us comfortable in hostile situations.

B. They give our brains the ability to absorb information.

C. They prevent us from catching contagious diseases.

D. They make us take on the emotions of those around us.

4. What can we infer from the article?

A. Dr. Goleman does not own a cell phone or a computer.

B. Goleman thinks modern devices may be harmful to our relationships.

C. You can cheer anyone up by simply offering them a smile.

D. Dr. Goleman thinks that technology raises our IQ but lower our EQ.

Answer