最新研究表明 謊言會導致人類大腦變得麻木
People who tell small, self-serving lies are likely to progress to bigger falsehoods, and over time, the brain appears to adapt to the dishonesty, according to a new study.
一項最新研究表明，如果人們說一些利己的小謊言，就有可能發展成更大的謊言，隨着時間的推移，大腦會適應這種不誠實。The finding, the researchers said, provides evidence for the "slippery slope" sometimes described by wayward politicians, corrupt financiers, unfaithful spouses and others in explaining their misconduct.
研究人員表示，該發現爲"滑坡謬誤"提供了證據，這種謬誤有時會在反覆無常的政客、腐敗的官員、不忠的配偶以及其他人解釋自己的不當行爲時出現。Dishonesty has been difficult to study. Using brain scanners in a lab, researchers have sometimes instructed subjects to lie in order to see what their brains were doing.
不誠實很難研究。研究人員有時在實驗室裏讓受試者說謊，並使用腦部掃描儀觀察其大腦活動。
Dr. Sharot and her colleagues devised a situation that offered participants the chance to lie of their own free will, and gave them an incentive to do so.
沙洛特博士和同事們設定了一個情境，爲參加者提供自願說謊的機會，並激勵他們這樣做。Participants in the study were asked to advise a partner in another room about how many pennies were in a jar.
這項研究的參與者被要求就罐子裏的硬幣數量爲另一個房間裏的夥伴提供意見。When the subjects believed that lying about the amount of money was to their benefit, they were more inclined to dishonesty and their lies escalated over time.
當受試者認爲就硬幣數量而說謊對自己有利時，他們傾向於變得不誠實，他們的謊言也會隨着時間而升級。These findings suggested that the negative emotional signals initially associated with lying decrease as the brain becomes desensitized, Dr. Sharot said.
沙羅特博士稱，這些發現表明，最初與說謊有關的消極情緒信號會隨着大腦變得麻木而減少。Dr. Garrett said he hoped that the study could be repeated in other, more realistic settings, and that another study could be done to look at what might stop people from escalating their dishonesty.
加勒特博士表示，他希望這項研究能在其他更真實的環境中重複進行，可以再做一項研究來觀察怎樣阻止人們變得不誠實。
