Others are hell, this is what Sartre said.
But psychologists say: Others are a magnifying glass. Whether it is happiness or pain, others will amplify this feeling, and then act on oneself.
Why do you say that? Psychologists once did an experiment.
They selected some veterans and told them that they would undergo a test for painful endurance. In the laboratory, subjects can freely control the degree of electric shock they will receive by turning the knob in front of them. Of course, the greater the current, the greater the pain.
As a psychological experiment to explore people’s feelings and belonging in a group, these subjects have a right: they can choose whether to receive the electric shock alone or find someone to accompany him to receive the electric shock. If it is the latter, the experimenter’s assistant will conduct the test together with the subject, but there is no knob in front of the assistant to adjust the intensity of the shock.
Of course, the assistant will not be shocked. But the subjects did not know this, they were just told: no matter how much he adjusted the current, the assistant would receive the same intensity electric shock as him.
The results are very interesting, but they are not beyond the expectations of the experimenters: When the soldiers see a partner by their side, the maximum current intensity he can accept is much higher than when he conducts the experiment alone.
Some people may think that soldiers have their own particularities: expressing their bravery in front of their comrades in arms is very important for a veteran. In the face of misfortune and danger, he can also show composure and calmness, which is praised by society. Therefore, when other people are present, the soldier subjects will show more endurance, which reflects the basic principles of soldiers.
When the experimenter extended the scope of the experiment to ordinary people, the result was similar to that of the soldier, which explained the original intention of the experimenter: when there are other people around, people will unconsciously want to show their own advantages. The first aspect of the “other effect”.
In addition, the “others effect” can not only amplify good quality, but also amplify pain. Another experiment conducted by the same group of people illustrates the other side of the “others effect”. ,
This time, the experimenters prepared some tear-jerking tragic movies for them. It is said that few people who watched this movie did not cry.
Of course, these subjects were also crying. But the purpose of this experimenter was not to see how miserable the subjects were crying, but to see whether their behavior would change when they were in a group.
The result of the experiment is that when these subjects watch a movie alone, their emotional changes are smaller than when they watch the movie together. Through the measurement of external indicators such as blood pressure, the experimenter found that when a person is in a sad group, he will not conceal his sadness, and even cry because of something that is not worthy of sadness.
The reason. This “other effect”.In fact, it is a manifestation of a sense of collective belonging. Whether it is happiness, patience or sadness, people often feel that they are different because of this special emotion, and being different often brings pressure because of differences. Imagine, in a situation where others are very sad, do you feel sad inexplicably? Or do you have the “guts” to laugh in this situation?
People are never completely isolated individuals, their emotions are always affected by the external environment, and “groups” are an important part of the environment. When people are in an unfamiliar environment, they often subconsciously attribute the “groups” around them to their own “groups”.
The so-called “group” refers to the influence on people. And let people belong to the group among them. When people have a group they belong to, they will be proud of being in it, and at the same time, they will actively protect the reputation and prestige of this group from harm.In the initial experiment, people are because of their group (although there are only two groups). Individuals are trying their best to show endurance different from ordinary people, which also improves their pain endurance.
Positive emotions are often strengthened by mutual infection and motivation, but negative emotions are not. It often works through dispersal of responsibilities and conformity.
in the crowd. It is easy for people to lose their own independent emotional experience, thus internalizing the masses’ emotions as their own. At this time, people will reduce their anxiety because “others do this”. Even when making a decision, people will “indulge” their emotions and make them the same as other people’s because they don’t need to bear all responsibilities independently.