Unit6

Listen1-1

Earlyonemorning,myhusbandturnedontheradio.Suddenlyheexclaimed,"ThathastobeRod.Nooneelsetalkslikethat!"Welistenedattentivelyandheardtheannouncersay,"You'vejustbeenlisteningtoaninterviewwithDr.RodSmith,whohasbeentellingyouaboutabreakthroughinAIDSresearchthatheandhiscolleagueshavemade."

WebothhadRodasastudentandagreedthathewasabsolutelythesloweststudentwehadeverhad.Hespokeslowly,movedslowly,andwroteslowly.Wesuspectedthathethoughtslowly.Whenhetookanexamination,hecouldneverfinishit.Theunansweredquestionskepthimfromhavinghighmarks.

Duringhissenioryear,Rodannouncedthathewantedtogotograduateschool,butnograduateschoolwouldaccepthim.Hekepttryingandayearorsolaterthebiologydepartmentofalargeuniversityallowedhimtoenrollinafewclassesonatrialbasis.Theydiscoveredthathewastalentedinbasicresearch.Hewasthenallowedtoenterthemaster'sdegreeprogram,andlaterthePh.D.program.Hecheerfullypersevered.Insixyearshecouldproudlyaddthetitleof"Doctor"tohisname.Hisprofessionalcareerbeganandwelosttrackofhim,untilweheardhisslow,steadyvoicethatmorning.

Thereisnogreatmoraltoourstory,exceptthatmanytimespersistencedoespay.We'dliketohopetherewillbemoreinstitutionsthatwilllookbeyondtestscoresandconsidertheotherpersonalstrengthsthatprospectivestudentsmayhave.Wethusurgeallyoungstudentstoremembertheoldsaying,"Ifatfirstyoudon'tsucceed,try,andtryagain."

Listen1-2

Earlyonemorning,myhusbandturnedontheradio.Suddenlyheexclaimed,"ThathastobeRod.Nooneelsetalkslikethat!"Welistenedattentivelyandheardtheannouncersay,"You'vejustbeenlisteningtoaninterviewwithDr.RodSmith,whohasbeentellingyouaboutabreakthroughinAIDSresearchthatheandhiscolleagueshavemade."

WebothhadRodasastudentandagreedthathewasabsolutelythesloweststudentwehadeverhad.Hespokeslowly,movedslowly,andwroteslowly.Wesuspectedthathethoughtslowly.Whenhetookanexamination,hecouldneverfinishit.Theunansweredquestionskepthimfromhavinghighmarks.

Duringhissenioryear,Rodannouncedthathewantedtogotograduateschool,butnograduateschoolwouldaccepthim.Hekepttryingandayearorsolaterthebiologydepartmentofalargeuniversityallowedhimtoenrollinafewclassesonatrialbasis.Theydiscoveredthathewastalentedinbasicresearch.Hewasthenallowedtoenterthemaster'sdegreeprogram,andlaterthePh.D.program.Hecheerfullypersevered.Insixyearshecouldproudlyaddthetitleof"Doctor"tohisname.Hisprofessionalcareerbeganandwelosttrackofhim,untilweheardhisslow,steadyvoicethatmorning.

Thereisnogreatmoraltoourstory,exceptthatmanytimespersistencedoespay.We'dliketohopetherewillbemoreinstitutionsthatwilllookbeyondtestscoresandconsidertheotherpersonalstrengthsthatprospectivestudentsmayhave.Wethusurgeallyoungstudentstoremembertheoldsaying,"Ifatfirstyoudon'tsucceed,try,andtryagain."

Listen2-1

Tom:

Hi,John,haven'tseenyouforalongtime.Whathaveyoubeendoingthesedays?

John:

I'minvolvedinlaunchingacampaignforanewproduct.

Tom:

Oh!How'sitgoing?

John:

NotaswellasI'dhoped.

Tom:

Whatwentwrong?

John:

Canyouimagine,Tom?IlostmytonguewhenIwasgivingoneofthemostimportantpresentations.Itwasreallyanightmare.Everyonewasstaringatmewithunblinkingeyes,andIreallywishedforaquickandmercifuldeath.

Tom:

Well...Butprobablyitwasn'tasbadasyouthink.Thiskindofthinghappenstoeveryone.HaveyoueverheardthestoryofaBritishdiplomat?JustbeforethisveryproperBritishcareerdiplomatwastogiveaspeech,hesawhisflywasopen.Hequicklysatbackdownagainandyankedthezippershutbutjammedhissilktieintothetinysteelteeth.

John:

Poorman!Whathappenedthen?

Tom:

Well,withinhours,theentirediplomaticcommunityheardthetie-in-the-zipperstory.Fromthatpointon,wheneverhewasonofficialbusiness,peoplegazeddownathisflyandusuallychuckled.

John:

Believeme,IfeltnobetterthanthepoorBritishdiplomatthatday.

Tom:

IthinkIknowwhatyouwentthrough.Butrememberothersdonotalwaysseeyouinanegativelightwhenyoumakeapublicmistake.Themortificationismostlyinyourownmind.Mostonlookersareactuallyverysympatheticwhenothersembarrassthemselves.

John:

Theyshouldbe.MarkTwainoncesaid:"Manistheonlyanimalthatblushes.Orneedsto."Nopersonisimmunetoembarrassment.

Tom:

Iguessthat'swhypeoplewhoareembarrassed,andsimplyadmittoit,andthenstalwartlycarryon,aretremendouslywellliked.Itseemstomakethemmorehuman.Actually,whenyouadmittoembarrassment,youshowtheincidentisnotshameful.Nordoesitshowanydefectinyourcharacter.Itonlyshowstheembarrassingincidentisnothingmorethanabrieflapse.

John:

YoumeannexttimewhenIcommitabadfauxpas,Ishouldjustshrugmyshouldersandsay"Iblewit!AmIeverembarrassed!"

Tom:

Absolutely.Bydoingthatyoucanusuallysaveface.

Questions:

1.WhathasJohnbeendoingthesedays?

2.Whathappenedwhenhewasgivingapresentation?

3.WhathappenedtotheBritishdiplomatwhenhewasaboutto

giveaspeech?

4.Howdopeoplereactwhentheyseesomeonemakeapublic

mistakeaccordingtoTom?

5.Howcanapersonsavefacewhenhemakesamistake?

Listen2-2

Tom:

Hi,John,haven'tseenyouforalongtime.Whathaveyoubeendoingthesedays?

John:

I'minvolvedinlaunchingacampaignforanewproduct.

Tom:

Oh!How'sitgoing?

John:

NotaswellasI'dhoped.

Tom:

Whatwentwrong?

John:

Canyouimagine,Tom?IlostmytonguewhenIwasgivingoneofthemostimportantpresentations.Itwasreallyanightmare.Everyonewasstaringatmewithunblinkingeyes,andIreallywishedforaquickandmercifuldeath.

Tom:

Well...Butprobablyitwasn'tasbadasyouthink.Thiskindofthinghappenstoeveryone.HaveyoueverheardthestoryofaBritishdiplomat?JustbeforethisveryproperBritishcareerdiplomatwastogiveaspeech,hesawhisflywasopen.Hequicklysatbackdownagainandyankedthezippershutbutjammedhissilktieintothetinysteelteeth.

John:

Poorman!Whathappenedthen?

Tom:

Well,withinhours,theentirediplomaticcommunityheardthetie-in-the-zipperstory.Fromthatpointon,wheneverhewasonofficialbusiness,peoplegazeddownathisflyandusuallychuckled.

John:

Believeme,IfeltnobetterthanthepoorBritishdiplomatthatday.

Tom:

IthinkIknowwhatyouwentthrough.Butrememberothersdonotalwaysseeyouinanegativelightwhenyoumakeapublicmistake.Themortificationismostlyinyourownmind.Mostonlookersareactuallyverysympatheticwhenothersembarrassthemselves.

John:

Theyshouldbe.MarkTwainoncesaid:"Manistheonlyanimalthatblushes.Orneedsto."Nopersonisimmunetoembarrassment.

Tom:

Iguessthat'swhypeoplewhoareembarrassed,andsimplyadmittoit,andthenstalwartlycarryon,aretremendouslywellliked.Itseemstomakethemmorehuman.Actually,whenyouadmittoembarrassment,youshowtheincidentisnotshameful.Nordoesitshowanydefectinyourcharacter.Itonlyshowstheembarrassingincidentisnothingmorethanabrieflapse.

John:

YoumeannexttimewhenIcommitabadfauxpas,Ishouldjustshrugmyshouldersandsay"Iblewit!AmIeverembarrassed!"

Tom:

Absolutely.Bydoingthatyoucanusuallysaveface.

Mlisten1-1

Theterm"moralhazard"canbeusedtorefertoasituationinwhichpeopleengageinriskierbehaviorthantheywouldotherwisewhenthecostsofdoingsoarelowered.Thismaysoundlikearatherdryconcept,butitcanbeappliedtomanyoftheeverydayactivitiesinwhichweallengage.

Manydifferentstudieshavebeendoneontheoverallimpactofairbags,andwehaveallheardthenewsreportsabouthowdangeroustheysometimesprovetobeforchildrenandsmalladults.Ifweapplytheconceptofmoralhazardtoairbagsweassumethatpeopledrivemorerecklesslywhentheythinktheircarsaresafer.Whatifyouknewyouweredrivingadangerouscar?Wouldyoubethatmuchmorecarefulwhenyouweredriving?Statisticsshowthatairbag-equippedcarsmadebetween1989and1993hadhigherpersonalinjuryclaimsandcollisionclaimsthannon-airbagmodelsforthesameyears.

ArecentstudydoneinEuropehasshownthatchildrenwhouseliberalamountsofsunscreentendtodevelopskincancermoreoften.What?Usingsunscreencausescancer?Well,OK,notquite.Itisthemoralhazardattachedtousingthesunscreenthatleadstohigheramountsofskincancer.Thosewhouselotsofsunscreentendtothinktheyare"safe"andcanstayinthesunlonger.Thosewhouselesssunscreenwilltendtohangoutintheshade.It'stheprolongedexposuretothesunthatisleadingtoincreasedincidenceofskincancer.

Economictheorysaysthatwhenthingscostless,weconsumemore.Thisholdstrueforlow-fatproducts.Thecost,i.e.fatcontent,isloweredandsoweeatmore.Studieshaveshownthatpeoplehaveactuallygainedweighteatingallthoselow-fatfoodsbecausetheyaresohighincalories.

Notethatoftentheoveralleffectofcertaintypesofprecautionispositive.Usingsunscreenleadstoadecreasedcancerrateoverall.Airbagshavesavedmorelivesthantheyhaveended.Thepointtostudyingincidentsofmoralhazardistheunintendedconsequences.Itisinterestingtolookattheothersideoftheargumentandrealizethatsometimestoomuchofagoodthingcanactuallybebad.

Mlisten1-2

Theterm"moralhazard"canbeusedtorefertoasituationinwhichpeopleengageinriskierbehaviorthantheywouldotherwisewhenthecostsofdoingsoarelowered.Thismaysoundlikearatherdryconcept,butitcanbeappliedtomanyoftheeverydayactivitiesinwhichweallengage.

Manydifferentstudieshavebeendoneontheoverallimpactofairbags,andwehaveallheardthenewsreportsabouthowdangeroustheysometimesprovetobeforchildrenandsmalladults.Ifweapplytheconceptofmoralhazardtoairbagsweassumethatpeopledrivemorerecklesslywhentheythinktheircarsaresafer.Whatifyouknewyouweredrivingadangerouscar?Wouldyoubethatmuchmorecarefulwhenyouweredriving?Statisticsshowthatairbag-equippedcarsmadebetween1989and1993hadhigherpersonalinjuryclaimsandcollisionclaimsthannon-airbagmodelsforthesameyears.

ArecentstudydoneinEuropehasshownthatchildrenwhouseliberalamountsofsunscreentendtodevelopskincancermoreoften.What?Usingsunscreencausescancer?Well,OK,notquite.Itisthemoralhazardattachedtousingthesunscreenthatleadstohigheramountsofskincancer.Thosewhouselotsofsunscreentendtothinktheyare"safe"andcanstayinthesunlonger.Thosewhouselesssunscreenwilltendtohangoutintheshade.It'stheprolongedexposuretothesunthatisleadingtoincreasedincidenceofskincancer.

Economictheorysaysthatwhenthingscostless,weconsumemore.Thisholdstrueforlow-fatproducts.Thecost,i.e.fatcontent,isloweredandsoweeatmore.Studieshaveshownthatpeoplehaveactuallygainedweighteatingallthoselow-fatfoodsbecausetheyaresohighincalories.

Notethatoftentheoveralleffectofcertaintypesofprecautionispositive.Usingsunscreenleadstoadecreasedcancerrateoverall.Airbagshavesavedmorelivesthantheyhaveended.Thepointtostudyingincidentsofmoralhazardistheunintendedconsequences.Itisinterestingtolookattheothersideoftheargumentandrealizethatsometimestoomuchofagoodthingcanactuallybebad.

Statements:

1.

Theconceptofmoralhazardcanbeappliedtomanyoftheeverydayactivitiesinwhichweallengage.

2.

Statisticsshowthatairbag-equippedcarsmadebetween1989and1993hadlowerpersonalinjuryclaimsandcollisionclaimsthannon-airbagmodels.

3.

Thosewhouselotsofsunscreentendtothinktheyare"safe"andcanstayinthesunlonger.

4.

Accordingtoeconomictheory,whenthingscostless,weconsumemore.

5.

Eatingmorelow-fatfoodsisaneffectivewaytoreduceweight.

6.

Theoveralleffectofcertaintypesofprecautionis,ingeneral,positive.

Mlisten2-1

He'sasportsnut;she'sabookworm.He'saRepublican;she'saDemocrat.Dooppositesreallyattract?Isitgoodiftheydo?

Itdependsonwhatyoumeanby"opposite".Relationshipsareaboutgettingourownneedsmet,oftenonanunconsciousbasis.Inotherwords,wetrytofindsomeonewhoiscomplementarytousandcanhelpuslearn,heal,andgrow.

Inastudy,researchersquizzed978residentsinNewYork,betweentheagesof18and24.First,theparticipantsratedtheimportanceof10attributesofalong-termpartner,andthenratedthemselvesonthesamescale.Theresultsshowedself-perceptionwasverysimilartomateperception.

Theconclusionwas:InWesternsociety,humansdonotusean"opposites-attract"ruleintheirchoiceoflong-termpartners,butrathera"likes-attract"rulebasedonapreferenceforpartnerswhoaresimilartothemselvesacrossanumberofcharacteristics.

Itistruethatintherealworld,onemayfindmoreappealinsomeonewhoisdifferentinsomeways.Thekeyis,whichways?

Whatmightbeabadwaytobeopposite?Ifonewasanavidsportsfan,andthematelikesonlytoread,thatcouplemighthavedifficulties.

Whatifonewasdetailconsciousandtheotherwas"bigpicture"oriented?Thismightbeabettersetofopposites.

Ifthecouple'svaluesandwaystheywanttospendtimearedifferent,thiscouldleadtobigtrouble.

Asforphysicalappearances,peoplethinktheydeserveamateasattractiveasthemselves.

Questions:

1.

Whatdidtheparticipantsofthestudyrateintheresearchsurvey?

2.

Whatwasverysimilartomateperceptionaccordingtotheresultsofthesurvey?

3.

WhatruledopeopleinWesternsocietyuseintheirchoiceoflong-termpartners?

4.

Intherealworld,whattypeofpersondopeoplefindmoreappealing?

5.

Whatkindofpartnerdopeoplepreferunderthe"opposites-attract"rule?

Mlisten2-2

He'sasportsnut;she'sabookworm.He'saRepublican;she'saDemocrat.Dooppositesreallyattract?Isitgoodiftheydo?

Itdependsonwhatyoumeanby"opposite".Relationshipsareaboutgettingourownneedsmet,oftenonanunconsciousbasis.Inotherwords,wetrytofindsomeonewhoiscomplementarytousandcanhelpuslearn,heal,andgrow.

Inastudy,researchersquizzed978residentsinNewYork,betweentheagesof18and24.First,theparticipantsratedtheimportanceof10attributesofalong-termpartner,andthenratedthemselvesonthesamescale.Theresultsshowedself-perceptionwasverysimilartomateperception.

Theconclusionwas:InWesternsociety,humansdonotusean"opposites-attract"ruleintheirchoiceoflong-termpartners,butrathera"likes-attract"rulebasedonapreferenceforpartnerswhoaresimilartothemselvesacrossanumberofcharacteristics.

Itistruethatintherealworld,onemayfindmoreappealinsomeonewhoisdifferentinsomeways.Thekeyis,whichways?

Whatmightbeabadwaytobeopposite?Ifonewasanavidsportsfan,andthematelikesonlytoread,thatcouplemighthavedifficulties.

Whatifonewasdetailconsciousandtheotherwas"bigpicture"oriented?Thismightbeabettersetofopposites.

Ifthecouple'svaluesandwaystheywanttospendtimearedifferent,thiscouldleadtobigtrouble.

Asforphysicalappearances,peoplethinktheydeserveamateasattractiveasthemselves.

Mlisten3-1

PartI

Jason:

Carol,I'mtoldthatyoufellinlovewithBobatfirstsight.Isthattrue?

Carol:

Skepticswilltellyouthatloveatfirstsightdoesn'texist,butforme,it'ssomethingreal.Loveatfirstsightcanstrikeanytime,anyplace.

Jason:

Howdidithappentoyou,then?

Carol:

ThereIwas,oneday,sittingquietlyatmyfavoritecoffeeshop,slowlysippinghotchocolateandallowingthespringsuntocaressmyface.SuddenlyIwasinterruptedbyaburstoflaughter.IlookedupandthereBobwas.Wow!Mypulsequickened,mystomachtightenedandIfeltshiverspassingthroughmybody.Ihadneverbelievedinloveatfirstsight,youknow,butthereBobwas,onlythreetablesaway—themanofmydreams.

Jason:

Thenwhatdidyoudo?

Carol:

Knowingthatit'snowornever,withgreatexcitementIquicklymappedoutaplan—Iwouldbeginbydrawinghimintoaninnocentconversation,andendwiththetwoofusfallingmadlyinloveandspendingeveryminuteofourlivesineachother'sarms.

Mlistwn3-2

PartII

Jason:

HowdidBobreact?

Carol:

Oh,itwasreallyamiracle!WhenIgazedinhisdirection,forafleetingmomentoureyeslockedandwebecamesoulmatesforlife.It'sasifwehadknowneachotherallourlives.Onceagain,chillsraceddownmyspineandIstartedtofeelweak.Ilookedaway.

Jason:

Itdoessoundlikewhatweoftenreadinafairytale.

Carol:

It'safairytaleexceptthatit'sonethathashappenedintherealworld.AssoonasIregainedthestrengthandcouragetolookupagain,miracleofmiracles,hewaslookingrightatme,flashingabrilliantsmile.

Jason:

Then?

Carol:

Foramoment,IjustdidnotknowhowIshouldgoabouttalkingtohim.WhereshouldIstartaconversation?Iwastryinghardnottopanic,rackingmybrainsforagoodopeninglinewhenIsawhimgetuptoleave.

Jason:

Whatifhetookoffandyouneversawhimagain?

Carol:

That'sexactlywhatIwasthinkingabout.Thankfully,hebrieflysatbackdown,pretendingtobebusyfinishingupsomelast-minutebusinesswithacheck.IrealizeditwasmyfinalopportunitysoIwentoverandsaidhellotohim.

Jason:

Naturally,youarrangedtoseeeachotheragain?

Carol:

Yes,ofcourse.Andwediscoveredawholerangeofcommoninterests.Westartedtalkingonthephoneforhoursandhours.Finally,wefellinlove,headoverheels.Life,Ithink,isbeautiful.Ihadnevermetamanwhowassoconsiderate,communicative,sensitiveandself-confident...Allthatwaslefttodowastoliveouttherestofthisfairytalerelationship.

Statements:

1.CarolandBobhadnevermeteachotherbefore.

2.Atfirst,BobdidnotseemtobeinterestedinCarol.

3.CarolfinallywentovertoBobandsaidhellotohim.

4.CarolandBobsharedacommoninterestinfairytales.

5.CarolandBobwantedtospendtherestoftheirlivestogether.

Mlisten3-3

PartI

Jason:

Carol,I'mtoldthatyoufellinlovewithBobatfirstsight.Isthattrue?

Carol:

Skepticswilltellyouthatloveatfirstsightdoesn'texist,butforme,it'ssomethingreal.Loveatfirstsightcanstrikeanytime,anyplace.

Jason:

Howdidithappentoyou,then?

Carol:

ThereIwas,oneday,sittingquietlyatmyfavoritecoffeeshop,slowlysippinghotchocolateandallowingthespringsuntocaressmyface.SuddenlyIwasinterruptedbyaburstoflaughter.IlookedupandthereBobwas.Wow!Mypulsequickened,mystomachtightenedandIfeltshiverspassingthroughmybody.Ihadneverbelievedinloveatfirstsight,youknow,butthereBobwas,onlythreetablesaway—themanofmydreams.

Jason:

Thenwhatdidyoudo?

Carol:

Knowingthatit'snowornever,withgreatexcitementIquicklymappedoutaplan—Iwouldbeginbydrawinghimintoaninnocentconversation,andendwiththetwoofusfallingmadlyinloveandspendingeveryminuteofourlivesineachother'sarms.

PartII

Jason:

HowdidBobreact?

Carol:

Oh,itwasreallyamiracle!WhenIgazedinhisdirection,forafleetingmomentoureyeslockedandwebecamesoulmatesforlife.It'sasifwehadknowneachotherallourlives.Onceagain,chillsraceddownmyspineandIstartedtofeelweak.Ilookedaway.

Jason:

Itdoessoundlikewhatweoftenreadinafairytale.

Carol:

It'safairytaleexceptthatit'sonethathashappenedintherealworld.AssoonasIregainedthestrengthandcouragetolookupagain,miracleofmiracles,hewaslookingrightatme,flashingabrilliantsmile.

Jason:

Then?

Carol:

Foramoment,IjustdidnotknowhowIshouldgoabouttalkingtohim.WhereshouldIstartaconversation?Iwastryinghardnottopanic,rackingmybrainsforagoodopeninglinewhenIsawhimgetuptoleave.

Jason:

Whatifhetookoffandyouneversawhimagain?

Carol:

That'sexactlywhatIwasthinkingabout.Thankfully,hebrieflysatbackdown,pretendingtobebusyfinishingupsomelast-minutebusinesswithacheck.IrealizeditwasmyfinalopportunitysoIwentoverandsaidhellotohim.

Jason:

Naturally,youarrangedtoseeeachotheragain?

Carol:

Yes,ofcourse.Andwediscoveredawholerangeofcommoninterests.Westartedtalkingonthephoneforhoursandhours.Finally,wefellinlove,headoverheels.Life,Ithink,isbeautiful.Ihadnevermetamanwhowassoconsiderate,communicative,sensitiveandself-confident...Allthatwaslefttodowastoliveouttherestofthisfairytalerelationship.

Mlisten4-1

Whobestexemplifiesthebasicessenceofhumannature:greedyexecutivesengagedincorporatefraud,MikeTyson,theaggressiveboxer,orthecourageousfirefighterswhorisktheirlivestosavestrangers?

AccordingtoShelleyTaylor,apsychologyprofessor,nurturingothersandcaringfortheirneedsareaswiredintoourbehaviorasouraggressiveandcompetitivenature.

Taylorhasconducted25yearsofresearchandanalyzedmorethan1,000studies.Sheoriginallyassumedthatone'sgeneslargelydetermineone'sbehavior,andsoithasbeenagreatsurpriseforhertoseehowclearlysocialrelationshipsforgeourbiology,evenatthelevelofgeneexpression.Chiefamongthesesocialforcesarethewaysinwhichpeopletakecareofoneanotherandtendtooneanother'sneeds.

Taylorhasfoundthatthebenefitsthattendingprovidestochildren,especiallythosewithgeneticrisks,aresubstantial.Childrenwhoarewelltendedinearlychildhoodgrowupwithbettersocialandemotionalwaysofmeetingtheworld.Eveninadultrelationships,wetendtoeachother'sneedsinwaysthatsustainlongandhealthylives.

"Tendingisinstinctive,andaffectsourbiologyateverystageoflife,"shesays."Howpeoplegetalongintimesofstress—fromhowcalmtheyaretotheirlikelihoodofbecomingill—dependsonthequalityofthetendingtheyreceive."

Whatroledoesourgeneticmakeupplayindeterminingourbehavior?AccordingtoTaylor,"Thegenomeislikeanarchitect'sfirstplan,aroughprojectionofhowapersonmayturnout.Thisplanisrevisedduringthecourseofthebuildingprocess.Whoweare—ourcharacter,evenourphysicalhealth—dependsonthepeoplewhotendtousandhowwellwegetalongwiththem—ourmothers,fathers,friendsandlovers."

Mlisten4-2

Whobestexemplifiesthebasicessenceofhumannature:greedyexecutivesengagedincorporatefraud,MikeTyson,theaggressiveboxer,orthecourageousfirefighterswhorisktheirlivestosavestrangers?

AccordingtoShelleyTaylor,apsychologyprofessor,nurturingothersandcaringfortheirneedsareaswiredintoourbehaviorasouraggressiveandcompetitivenature.

Taylorhasconducted25yearsofresearchandanalyzedmorethan1,000studies.Sheoriginallyassumedthatone'sgeneslargelydetermineone'sbehavior,andsoithasbeenagreatsurpriseforhertoseehowclearlysocialrelationshipsforgeourbiology,evenatthelevelofgeneexpression.Chiefamongthesesocialforcesarethewaysinwhichpeopletakecareofoneanotherandtendtooneanother'sneeds.

Taylorhasfoundthatthebenefitsthattendingprovidestochildren,especiallythosewithgeneticrisks,aresubstantial.Childrenwhoarewelltendedinearlychildhoodgrowupwithbettersocialandemotionalwaysofmeetingtheworld.Eveninadultrelationships,wetendtoeachother'sneedsinwaysthatsustainlongandhealthylives.

"Tendingisinstinctive,andaffectsourbiologyateverystageoflife,"shesays."Howpeoplegetalongintimesofstress—fromhowcalmtheyaretotheirlikelihoodofbecomingill—dependsonthequalityofthetendingtheyreceive."

Whatroledoesourgeneticmakeupplayindeterminingourbehavior?AccordingtoTaylor,"Thegenomeislikeanarchitect'sfirstplan,aroughprojectionofhowapersonmayturnout.Thisplanisrevisedduringthecourseofthebuildingprocess.Whoweare—ourcharacter,evenourphysicalhealth—dependsonthepeoplewhotendtousandhowwellwegetalongwiththem—ourmothers,fathers,friendsandlovers."

Questions:

1.Whatfactorplaysanimportantroleintheshapingofour

biologyaccordingtotheresearchofTaylor?

2.Howwillchildrenbeabletogrowupwithbettersocial

andemotionalwaysofmeetingtheworld?

3.Whatdeterminespeople'sreactionintimesofstressin

Taylor'sview?

4.Whatdoesthe"genome"meanaccordingtoTaylor?

5.Whatistheaimofthispassage?

Quiz1-1

Amanfromtheofficewasgoingtogivemearidehomeoneday,sowewalkedthroughanemptylotwithhighgrasstogettohiscar.Afewminuteslater,weweredrivingalongamajorstreetwhenIfeltsomecreaturegoingupmylegundermypants.Likemanywomen,Ihatemostbugs.However,whateverwastherewasclimbinghigherandhigher.Icouldn'tbearitanylonger.IscreamedtothedrivertostopthecarwhileIfranticallystartedtopulldownmypants.

Hewassurprised,buthescreechedtoastopnexttoaverybusysidewalk.Ijumpedoutofthecar.Ipulleddownmypantsinfrontofarathersurprisedgroupofpedestrians.Averylargegrasshoppercameout.Ijumpedbackinthecarandweleftagain.Itwasembarrassing,butIwasgladitwasn'taspider.

Statements:

1.

Whenthespeakerwaswalkingthroughanemptylot,shefelttherewassomethinggoingupherleg.

2.

Shetoldthedrivertostopthecarbecauseshewanted