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完美主义的危险性(下)
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区分完美主义者的类型很重要。心理学家区分出了三种类型："自我导向型"，即给自己施加压力，以求表现得完美无瑕。
双语精读
It matters what kind of perfectionist someone is.
区分完美主义者的类型很重要。
Psychologists distinguish between a "self-oriented" version, in which people put pressure on themselves to perform flawlessly; an "other-oriented" type, in which people hold their colleagues to the highest of standards; and a "socially prescribed" version, in which employees think they will only get on if they meet the impossible expectations of those around them.
心理学家区分出了三种类型："自我导向型"，即给自己施加压力，以求表现得完美无瑕；"以他人为导向型"，即以最高标准要求同事；以及"社会规定型"，即员工认为，只有达到了周围人不可能达到的期望，他们才能继续工作。
People in the last camp seem to be especially prone to stress.
最后一类人似乎特别容易感觉到压力。
A recent Italian study found that, whereas having extremely high standards for your own performance was not a predictor of burnout, being afraid of making mistakes was.
意大利最近的一项研究发现，虽然对自己的表现有极高的要求并不会引发崩溃，但害怕犯错会。
Perfectionists may also hurt team cohesiveness.
完美主义者也可能会破坏团队凝聚力。
In a study conducted in 2020, Emily Kleszewski and Kathleen Otto of Philipps-University of Marburg asked people to rate potential co-workers based on descriptions of their levels and categories of perfectionism.
在2020年进行的一项研究中，马尔堡-菲利普大学的艾米丽·克莱谢夫斯基和凯瑟琳·奥托让人们根据未来同事对自己的完美主义程度和类型的描述来给他们打分。
Perfectionists were regarded as being less socially skilled and less likeable than non-perfectionists.
人们认为完美主义者的社交能力不如非完美主义者，也没有非完美主义者讨人喜欢。
You don't have to like your colleagues for them to be effective: in that same study, perfectionists were rated as more competent than non-perfectionists. But when more and more work is organised around small groups working together, it can help not to loathe each other.
你不一定非得喜欢你的同事才能让他们更有效率：该研究发现，人们认为完美主义者比非完美主义者能力更强。但当小组有越来越多的工作要共同处理时，组员不厌恶彼此会有所帮助。
By now your inner curmudgeon may well be frothing at the mouth. Nit-picking micro-managers are deeply annoying but they are nowhere near as bad as people who don't have any standards.
说到这里，你内心的暴躁小人很可能已经气到口吐白沫了。吹毛求疵的微观管理者固然非常令人讨厌，但他们远不如没有任何标准的人糟糕。
Demanding bosses can be the difference between good products and superb ones: "that'll do" was not the mantra that made Steve Jobs successful. Some jobs actively require perfectionism--copy editors, say, or medicines regulators.
苛刻的老板可能会让"不错的"产品升级为"一流的"产品：史蒂夫·乔布斯能成功可不是靠把"差不多"当成准则。有些工作确实要求完美主义----比如文案编辑或药品监管。
And since when did being exacting become a health risk? Fortunately, discouraging perfectionism does not mean sacrificing high standards.
从什么时候起，严格要求也成了一种健康风险？幸运的是，不鼓励完美主义并不意味着舍弃高标准。
In a paper published last year, three academics at the University of Ottawa found that people who strove for excellence did better on tests of creative thinking than people who sought perfection.
在去年发表的一篇论文中，渥太华大学的三名学者发现，追求卓越的人在创造性思维测试中比追求完美的人表现得更好。
Managers can explicitly define what counts as high-quality work. Deadlines can prevent endless procrastination.
管理者可以明确定义什么是高质量的工作。设置最后期限可以防止无休止的拖延。
Mr Sunak's call not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good came as he sat in front of a poster that misspelled the word "campaign". That took things too far.
苏纳克在呼吁"不要让完美成为优秀的敌人"时，身后海报上的"campaign"一词却拼错了。这就太过分了。
词汇预习
extremely [高考]
美[ɪkˈstriːmli] | 英[ɪkˈstriːmli]
adv. 非常；极其
effective [高考]
美[ɪˈfektɪv] | 英[ɪˈfektɪv]
adj. 有效的；生效的；实际的
define [高考]
美[dɪˈfaɪn] | 英[dɪˈfaɪn]
v. 规定；限定；定义；解释
inner [高考]
美[ˈɪnər] | 英[ˈɪnə(r)]
adj. 内心的；内部的；里面的 n. 里面
skilled [高考]
美[skɪld] | 英[skɪld]
adj. 有技能的；熟练的
competent [高考]
美[ˈkɑːmpɪtənt] | 英[ˈkɒmpɪtənt]
adj. 有能力的；足够的；胜任的
whereas [高考]
美[ˌwerˈæz] | 英[ˌweərˈæz]
conj. 然而；鉴于
perfection [高考]
美[pərˈfekʃn] | 英[pəˈfekʃn]
n. 完美；完善
potential [高考]
美[pəˈtenʃl] | 英[pəˈtenʃl]
adj. 潜在的；可能的 n. 潜力；潜能 n. 电位；电势
rate [高考]
美[reɪt] | 英[reɪt]
n. 比率；速度；价格；费用；等级 v. 认为；估价；定等级；值得；怒斥；责骂
distinguish [高考]
美[dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ] | 英[dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ]
vt. 区别；辨认；使显著
endless [高考]
美[ˈendləs] | 英[ˈendləs]
adj. 无止境的；没完没了的
self [高考]
美[self] | 英[self]
n. 自己；本性；自我 pron. 我自己；你自己；他或她自己 adj.同一的；纯净的；单一的 v. 近亲繁殖；自花授粉
superb [高考]
美[suːˈpɜːrb] | 英[suːˈpɜːb]
adj. 极好的
thinking [高考]
美[ˈθɪŋkɪŋ] | 英[ˈθɪŋkɪŋ]
n. 思考；思想 adj. 好思考的；有理性的
high-quality [四级]
美['haɪkw'ɒlɪtɪ] | 英['haɪkw'ɒlɪtɪ]
adj. 高质量的；高级的
socially [四级]
美[ˈsoʃəlɪ] | 英['səʊʃəlɪ]
adv. 在社交上；在社会上；与礼貌行为相关
excellence [四级]
美[ˈeksələns] | 英[ˈeksələns]
n. 优秀；卓越；优点
micro [四级]
美[ˈmaɪkroʊ] | 英[ˈmaɪkrəʊ]
adj. 微小的 pref. 表示"微小；百万分之一"
in that [四级]
美[ɪn ðæt] | 英[in ðæt]
因为，由于，既然
afraid of [四级]
美 | 英
害怕
pressure on [四级]
美 | 英
对...的压力
prone [六级]
美[proʊn] | 英[prəʊn]
adj. 易于 ... 的；有 ... 倾向的；俯卧的
explicitly [六级]
美[ɪk'splɪsɪtlɪ] | 英[ɪk'splɪsɪtlɪ]
adv. 明白地；明确地
based on [六级]
美[best ɑn] | 英[beɪst ɔn]
以 ... 为基础； 基于
kind of [六级]
美[kaɪnd ʌv] | 英[kaind ɔv]
adv. 有点儿
predictor [专四]
美[prɪˈdɪktər] | 英[prɪˈdɪktə(r)]
n. 预言者
loathe [专八]
美[loʊð] | 英[ləʊð]
v. 厌恶；憎恶
non [考研]
美[nɒn] | 英[nɒn]
adv. [拉]非；不是
don [托福]
美[dɑn] | 英[dɒn]
n. 先生（西班牙用语）；(牛津、剑桥大学的)指导教师 v. 穿上
重点讲解
It matters what kind of perfectionist someone is.
区分完美主义者的类型很重要。
hold sb to sth 使某人做他们承诺或同意做的事
（英文释义：to make someone do what they promised or agreed to do）
【例】We'll hold him to the exact terms of the contract.
我们要他严格遵守合同的条款。
get on
1. 相处得好
（英文释义：to have a good relationship）
【例】We're getting on much better now that we don't live together.
我们没有住在一起，现在相处得好多了。
2. （成功地）处理
（英文释义：to manage or deal with a situation, especially successfully）
【例】We're getting on quite well with the decorating.
我们在装修方面进展得很顺利。
3. 继续（工作）
（英文释义：to continue doing something, especially work）
【例】Jane got on with her work.
简继续做她的工作。
Psychologists distinguish between a "self-oriented" version, in which people put pressure on themselves to perform flawlessly; an "other-oriented" type, in which people hold their colleagues to the highest of standards; and a "socially prescribed" version, in which employees think they will only get on if they meet the impossible expectations of those around them.
心理学家区分出了三种类型："自我导向型"，即给自己施加压力，以求表现得完美无瑕；"以他人为导向型"，即以最高标准要求同事；以及"社会规定型"，即员工认为，只有达到了周围人不可能达到的期望，他们才能继续工作。
hold sb to sth 使某人做他们承诺或同意做的事
（英文释义：to make someone do what they promised or agreed to do）
【例】We'll hold him to the exact terms of the contract.
我们要他严格遵守合同的条款。
get on
1. 相处得好
（英文释义：to have a good relationship）
【例】We're getting on much better now that we don't live together.
我们没有住在一起，现在相处得好多了。
2. （成功地）处理
（英文释义：to manage or deal with a situation, especially successfully）
【例】We're getting on quite well with the decorating.
我们在装修方面进展得很顺利。
3. 继续（工作）
（英文释义：to continue doing something, especially work）
【例】Jane got on with her work.
简继续做她的工作。
People in the last camp seem to be especially prone to stress.
最后一类人似乎特别容易感觉到压力。
prone adj. 易于遭受；有做（坏事）的倾向
（英文释义：likely to suffer from sth or to do sth bad ）
【搭配】be prone to sth/ to do sth 容易...
【例】prone to injury 容易受伤
Working without a break makes you more prone to error.
连续工作不停歇使人更容易出错。
A recent Italian study found that, whereas having extremely high standards for your own performance was not a predictor of burnout, being afraid of making mistakes was.
意大利最近的一项研究发现，虽然对自己的表现有极高的要求并不会引发崩溃，但害怕犯错会。
burnout n. （过劳或紧张导致的）精疲力竭，精神崩溃
（英文释义：If someone suffers burnout, they exhaust themselves at an early stage in their life or career because they have achieved too much too quickly.）
【例】Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to burnout.
同样，批评会产生很大的压力，可以让一个人精疲力竭。
Perfectionists**** may also**** hurt**** team**** cohesiveness****.****
完美主义者也可能会破坏团队凝聚力。
In**** a study conducted in**** 2020****,**** Emily Kleszewski**** and Kathleen**** Otto**** of**** Philipps****-University**** of**** Marburg asked people**** to**** rate**** potential co****-workers based on**** descriptions**** of**** their levels**** and categories**** of**** perfectionism.****
在2020年进行的一项研究中，马尔堡-菲利普大学的艾米丽·克莱谢夫斯基和凯瑟琳·奥托让人们根据未来同事对自己的完美主义程度和类型的描述来给他们打分。
Perfectionists**** were**** regarded**** as**** being less**** socially**** skilled and less**** likeable**** than**** non-perfectionists****.****
人们认为完美主义者的社交能力不如非完美主义者，也没有非完美主义者讨人喜欢。
You don't have**** to**** like**** your**** colleagues**** for them**** to**** be**** effective:**** in**** that**** same**** study,**** perfectionists**** were**** rated as**** more**** competent than**** non-perfectionists****.**** But when**** more**** and more**** work**** is**** organised around**** small groups**** working together****,**** it**** can help**** not to**** loathe**** each**** other.****
你不一定非得喜欢你的同事才能让他们更有效率：该研究发现，人们认为完美主义者比非完美主义者能力更强。但当小组有越来越多的工作要共同处理时，组员不厌恶彼此会有所帮助。
By now your inner curmudgeon may well be frothing at the mouth. Nit-picking micro-managers are deeply annoying but they are nowhere near as bad as people who don't have any standards.
说到这里，你内心的暴躁小人很可能已经气到口吐白沫了。吹毛求疵的微观管理者固然非常令人讨厌，但他们远不如没有任何标准的人糟糕。
froth at the mouth （气得）口吐白沫
（英文释义：to produce froth from the mouth because of illness or excitement； to be very angry about something）
【例】The dog was frothing at the mouth.
那条狗正口吐白沫。
She was frothing at the mouth with rage.
她气得口吐白沫。
nit-picking/ nitpicking adj. 挑剔的，吹毛求疵的
（英文释义：giving too much attention to details that are not important, especially as a way of criticizing)
【例】If you spent less time nitpicking, you'd get more work done.
如果你少花点时间挑剔，你就能完成更多的工作。
【拓展】nitpicker 爱挑剔的人
（英文释义：someone who gives too much attention to details that are not important）
【例】Some people may say I'm being a nitpicker.
有些人可能会说我挑剔。
Demanding bosses can be the difference between good products and superb ones: "that'll do" was not the mantra that made Steve Jobs successful. Some jobs actively require perfectionism--copy editors, say, or medicines regulators.
苛刻的老板可能会让"不错的"产品升级为"一流的"产品：史蒂夫·乔布斯能成功可不是靠把"差不多"当成准则。有些工作确实要求完美主义----比如文案编辑或药品监管。
that’ll do
1. 那样就行了，已经足够了
（英文释义：That is enough.; Do no more）
【例】Janet: “Would you like any more turkey, Steve?”
Steve: “No, Janet, that'll do, thank you.”
珍妮特:“史蒂夫，你还要火鸡吗?”
史蒂夫:“不用了，珍妮特，就这样吧，谢谢你。”
2. 命令某人停止做某事
（英文释义：used to order somebody to stop doing or saying something）
【例】That’ll do! I’ve heard enough of your complaints.
行了！你的抱怨我已经听够了。
And since when did being exacting become a health risk? Fortunately, discouraging perfectionism does not mean sacrificing high standards.
从什么时候起，严格要求也成了一种健康风险？幸运的是，不鼓励完美主义并不意味着舍弃高标准。
that’ll do
1. 那样就行了，已经足够了
（英文释义：That is enough.; Do no more）
【例】Janet: “Would you like any more turkey, Steve?”
Steve: “No, Janet, that'll do, thank you.”
珍妮特:“史蒂夫，你还要火鸡吗?”
史蒂夫:“不用了，珍妮特，就这样吧，谢谢你。”
2. 命令某人停止做某事
（英文释义：used to order somebody to stop doing or saying something）
【例】That’ll do! I’ve heard enough of your complaints.
行了！你的抱怨我已经听够了。
In a paper published last year, three academics at the University of Ottawa found that people who strove for excellence did better on tests of creative thinking than people who sought perfection.
在去年发表的一篇论文中，渥太华大学的三名学者发现，追求卓越的人在创造性思维测试中比追求完美的人表现得更好。
strive for 努力，奋斗
（英文释义：to try very hard to achieve sth）
【例】We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards.
我们鼓励所有成员为达到最高标准而努力。
Managers can explicitly define what counts as high-quality work. Deadlines can prevent endless procrastination.
管理者可以明确定义什么是高质量的工作。设置最后期限可以防止无休止的拖延。
take sth too far 太过分了
（英文释义：To do something, often some form of misbehavior, to an excessive degree.）
【例】Well, your little brother is crying now because you took your teasing too far.
你弟弟现在哭了，因为你戏弄得太过分了。
Mr Sunak's call not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good came as he sat in front of a poster that misspelled the word "campaign". That took things too far.
苏纳克在呼吁"不要让完美成为优秀的敌人"时，身后海报上的"campaign"一词却拼错了。这就太过分了。
take sth too far 太过分了
（英文释义：To do something, often some form of misbehavior, to an excessive degree.）
【例】Well, your little brother is crying now because you took your teasing too far.
你弟弟现在哭了，因为你戏弄得太过分了。
课后练习
Which kind of perfectionist is prone to stress?
A. People who set high standards for themselves.
B. People who cannot tolerate the flaw of others.
C. People who strive to live up to others’ expectations.
D. People who are criticized for making mistakes.
What did the study in 2020 find?
A. Perfectionists practised their social skills regularly.
B. Giving praise helped improve colleagues’ efficiency.
C. Perfectionists were often envied for their competence.
D. Most people didn’t like to work with perfectionists.
Which of the following is true about demanding bosses?
A. They are more annoying than people without standards.
B. They can create products that surpass average levels.
C. They are good at learning from successful entrepreneurs.
D. They have a work style that is not suitable for copy editing.
The example of Mr. Sunak is used to show that ___.
A. breaking rules can lead to creative thinking
B. a relaxed attitude is more popular than perfectionism
C. seeking the perfect is better than accepting the good
D. non-perfectionists don’t have to give up excellence