We are usually in control of what we do, say, and buy. However, we're also influenced by our environment and circumstances—sometimes without realizing it. Priming happens when something in the environment, such as a word, a picture, or some music, triggers us to connect it with something else. For example, being exposed to particular words can make us easily think of related words.
我們通常能夠掌控自己要做什麼、要說什麼和要買什麼。然而，我們也會受到環境和情勢的影響－－只是有時卻不自覺。「促發」發生在當周遭環境中比如一個字、一幅圖畫、或者某些音樂促發我們心中某種聯想的時候。例如，接觸特定詞語會讓我們比較容易想到相關詞彙。
Look at this word with a missing letter: SO_P. What do you think the whole word should be? If you have been thinking about the word "eat," you are more likely to say "soup." However, if you have recently seen or heard the word "wash," then "soap" is your probable answer. Either the word "eat" or "wash" primes you to answer with "soup" or "soap."
看看這個缺一個字母的單字：SO_P。你認為這個字應該是什麼？如果你最近有想到「eat」，你比較有可能會說「soup」。不過，如果你最近有看到或聽到「wash」，「soap」可能會是你的答案。不管是「eat」或「wash」，它們都促發你回答「soup」或「soap」。
Priming can also make us act in certain ways, often subconsciously. In an experiment, researchers primed some participants with words related to rudeness. The researchers found these people more likely to show impatience and cut someone else off in the middle of a conversation. They were primed to behave rudely, and they did so.
「促發效應」也會讓我們往往不自覺地做出一些行為。在一個實驗中，研究人員先用與粗魯相關的字眼促發受試者的行為。他們發現這些被促發行為的受試者比較容易會產生不耐煩的情緒，在談話中也更容易去打斷別人的話。他們被促發做出粗魯的行為，而他們真的照做了。
Images prime people's behavior, too. One British experiment took place in an office kitchen. Office workers dropped cash into an "honesty box" to pay for the tea and coffee they took from the kitchen. Although a suggested price list was placed on the wall, the workers could pay whatever they wanted. A picture of flowers was placed above the price list. When the flower picture was changed to an image of human eyes, the staff ended up paying more for their drinks. Because of the eyes, the workers kind of felt like they were being watched. This primed them to put more money in the honesty box.
影像也會「促發」人的行為。英國有所大學在辦公室的廚房進行一項實驗。職員將現金投入「誠實箱」以支付他們從廚房拿的茶和咖啡。即使牆上有一張建議價格表，但人們其實想付多少錢就付多少。一幅鮮花的照片放在價格表上。當這張照片更改為人眼的圖像後，結果職員為他們的飲料付了更多錢。因為那雙眼睛，職員隱隱有種被人監視的感覺。這也促發了他們把更多錢繳到誠實箱裡面。
Another experiment shows that music can influence our decisions. In a grocery store, typical French or German music was played every other day for two weeks. On French music days, more French wine than German wine was sold. Similarly, consumers bought more German wine when German music was played. When the customers were surveyed, they were not aware that the music had primed their decisions.
另一個實驗顯示音樂也會影響我們的決定。有間雜貨店在兩週的時間內每隔一天輪流播放典型的法國音樂或德國音樂。在播放法國音樂的日子裡，法國紅酒賣得較多。相同地，播放德國音樂時顧客會比較容易選購德國紅酒。這些顧客在接受問卷調查時後，都不曾察覺是音樂促發了他們做出選擇。
Marketers and advertisers find research projects like these quite valuable. Retail businesses in particular are always trying to encourage customers to spend money at their stores. Advertisers tend to choose words and images carefully, and use those that will prime consumers. Shoppers are rarely aware of the hidden signals in advertisements. Priming is a powerful tool of control, and one that is not always easy to spot. Now that you know about the priming effect, you should focus on what you really need and make choices without being primed.
行銷人員和廣告商覺得像這樣的研究非常寶貴。特別是零售事業總想鼓勵顧客在他們的店裡花錢。廣告商比較會小心地選擇並使用那些能促發顧客反應的文字和圖片。購物者很少察覺廣告裡面隱藏的訊息。促發效應是個可以控制人類行為的強大工具，一個很難意識到的工具。現在你既然知道促發效應了，你該專注於真正所需，而不要做出被它影響的選擇。
- influence [ˋɪnflʊəns] v.
影響
Barry's lack of money didn't influence his decision to quit the job.
Barry 缺錢，但並不影響他辭掉工作的決定。 - influence [ˋɪnflʊəns] n.
影響
What happens in our childhood has a big influence on our personalities.
童年發生的事情對於我們的個性會造成很大的影響。
Under his brother's influence, Jason became very interested in music.
在哥哥的影響下，Jason 變得對音樂非常有興趣。 - influential [͵ɪnflʊˋɛnʃəl] adj.
有影響力的
Professor Jones is regarded as one of the most influential scholars in the field of medical research.
Jones 教授被視為醫學研究領域方面最具影響力的學者。 - environment [ɪnˋvaɪrənmənt] n.
環境；自然環境
Shirley enjoys her job because her office is a great environment to work in.
Shirley 很喜歡她的工作，因為她辦公室的工作環境很好。
Human ignorance has done a lot of harm to the environment over the years.
這些年來，人類無知已經對自然環境造成很大的傷害。 - environmental [ɪn͵vaɪrənˋmɛnt!] adj.
環境的；有關環境的
Joe works in the field of environmental protection, studying wild birds and how they live.
Joe 在環境相關領域工作，研究野生鳥類以及牠們的生存方式。 - circumstance [ˋsɝkəm͵stæns] n.
情況；形勢
The company is losing money, and under the circumstances we will have to reduce the number of workers.
這個公司在虧錢，而在這種狀況下，我們必須減少員工人數。 - trigger [ˋtrɪgɚ] v.
引起；引發
For my grandmother, loud noises can trigger various health problems, such as bad headaches.
對我奶奶來說，巨大的吵雜聲響會引發不同的健康問題，例如嚴重的頭痛。 - expose [ɪkˋspoz] v.
使接觸
Martha worries that her son may be exposed to bad things if she buys him a smartphone.
Martha 擔心如果她買智慧型手機給她兒子的話，他會接觸到不好的事物。 - exposure [ɪkˋspoʒɚ] n.
接觸；遭受
Washing your hands frequently can reduce the danger of exposure to disease.
勤洗手可以減少接觸疾病的危險。 - particular [pɚˋtɪkjəlɚ] adj.
特別的
At that restaurant, there is a particular fish dish that my father always orders.
那間餐廳有一道我爸爸總是會點的特別魚料理。 - particularly [pɚˋtɪkjəlɚlɪ] adv.
尤其；特別地
Daniel is a big fan of sports, particularly tennis and baseball.
Daniel 非常喜歡運動，特別是打網球和棒球。 - missing [ˋmɪsɪŋ] adj.
不見的；失蹤的
Bernard put up pictures of his missing dog all over the neighborhood.
Bernard 在整個街坊貼滿他失蹤的小狗的照片。 - probable [ˋprɑbəb!] adj.
很可能的
The driver may have fallen asleep, which the police believe was the probable cause of the accident.
那個司機可能睡著了，警方認為這是這起事故的可能原因。 - probably [ˋprɑbəblɪ] adv.
大概；很可能
If we leave around ten, we'll probably reach Grandma's home before two o'clock.
如果我們大概十點出門，大概兩點前就會到奶奶家。 - experiment [ɪkˋspɛrəmənt] n.
實驗
The results of the experiment hinted that the drug is not effective for everyone.
實驗結果說明了這種藥並不是對每個人都有效。 - experiment [ɪkˋspɛrəmənt] v.
做實驗；嘗試
We experimented with dead frogs in our science class today.
我們今天自然課用死青蛙做實驗。
Denise has so many clothes because she loves to experiment with different styles.
Denise 有超級多衣服，因為她喜歡嘗試不同的風格。 - participant [pɑrˋtɪsəpənt] n.
參加者
My neighbor became a participant in a crime when a gang used him as a driver.
當幫派找我鄰居來開車的時候，他就也參與了一起犯罪。 - participate [pɑrˋtɪsə͵pet] v.
參加
Jean loves to make friends so she participates in all kinds of activities.
Jean 喜歡交朋友，所以她參加各種活動。 - honesty [ˋɑnɪstɪ] n.
誠實
David is known for his honesty and would never cheat anyone.
David 最為人所知的就是他的誠實，以及永遠不會欺騙任何人。 - honest [ˋɑnɪst] adj.
誠實的
The girl sings well, but to be honest, I don't think she'll become a pop star.
那個女生唱得很好，但老實說，我不覺得她會成為流行歌手。 - suggest [səˋdʒɛst] v.
提議，建議；使（聯）想到，暗示
Paula suggested we all go out for lunch together, and everyone agreed.
Paula 提議大家一起出去吃午餐，大家都同意了。
Arthur's recent behavior suggests he is under a lot of stress.
Arthur 最近的行為暗示著他處在很大的壓力下。 - suggestion [səˋdʒɛstʃən] n.
建議；提議
My suggestion is that you discuss it with your parents before making a decision.
我的建議是，你做決定之前和你父母討論一下。 - staff [stæf] n.
全體員工
All the staff at the busy restaurant, from the cooks to the waiters, must work very hard.
在這間忙碌餐廳裡的所有員工，從廚師到服務生，都必須非常努力工作。 - consumer [kənˋsjumɚ] n.
消費者
Consumers are rushing to buy the latest smartphone, which came out yesterday.
消費者衝去買昨天才開賣的最新手機。 - consume [kənˋsjum] v.
消耗
For John, researching the paper consumed a lot more time than actually writing it.
對 John 來說，為論文找資料比起實際去寫還要花更多時間。 - survey [sɚˋve] v.
調查
For a class project, Monica surveyed the students of her school to find out their views on environmental issues.
為了一項班級作業，Monica 向她學校的學生進行調查，以了解他們對環境議題的看法。 - survey [ˋsɚve] n.
調查
A recent survey of high school students showed that 76 percent have a smartphone.
最近一項針對高中生的調查顯示百分之 76 的學生擁有智慧型手機。 - advertiser [ˋædvɚ͵taɪzɚ] n.
廣告商
Because of the negative reports, many advertisers stopped spending money with the TV channel.
因為負面報導的關係，許多廣告商都不再花錢在這個電視頻道上。 - advertise [ˋædvɚ͵taɪz] v.
登廣告
Our company advertises its products mainly in magazines.
我們公司主要是在雜誌上打產品的廣告。
If we want to increase sales, we need to advertise more.
如果我們想要增加銷量，我們就必須多下一點廣告。 - advertisement [͵ædvɚˋtaɪzmənt] n.
廣告
Gemma is a model and actress who has appeared in many advertisements.
Gemma 是出現在許多廣告中的模特兒跟女演員。 - retail [ˋritel] n.
零售；零賣
My best friend Elizabeth works in retail, running a mobile phone store.
我最好的朋友 Elizabeth 從事零售業，經營一間手機店。 - retail [ˋritel] v.
以...價格零售
Right now, this product is retailing for around a hundred dollars in most stores.
現在大多數店家都以大約一百元的價格零售這個產品。 - retailer [ˋritelɚ] n.
零售商
This chain store is one of the largest retailers of sports equipment in the country.
這間連鎖店是全國最大一間體育用品零售商之一。 - rarely [ˋrɛrlɪ] adv.
幾乎不
Jack used to come to this coffee shop all the time, but we rarely see him here now.
Jack 以前一天到晚來這間咖啡店，但我們現在很少在這裡看到他了。 - spot [spɑt] v.
發現；注意到
The thief thought nobody had spotted him, but he was filmed by a hidden camera.
這個小偷以為沒有人發現他，但他其實被隱藏式攝影機拍到了。 - spot [spɑt] n.
場所；地點
The lakeside is a great spot for a picnic in summer.
湖邊是夏日野餐的理想地點。 - focus [ˋfokəs] v.
特別關注
Right now I'm focusing on making money to study abroad next year.
現在我的重心在為了明年出國讀書而賺錢。 - focus [ˋfokəs] n.
中心；焦點
The main focus of this magazine article is online etiquette.
這篇雜誌文章的主要重點是網路上的禮儀。 - in control of
控制
After scoring the third goal, our team was in total control of the game.
得了第三分之後，我們這隊完全掌控了比賽。 - think of
想到
If someone asks me about my friends, you are the first person I think of.
如果有人問我的朋友，你會是我第一個想到的人。 - either...or...
不是...就是...
This summer vacation, Nathaniel will either take some language classes or get a job.
這個暑假，Nathaniel 不是去上些語言課，就是去找一份工作。 - take place
舉行
This is the restaurant where my sister's wedding will take place next month.
這間餐廳就是下個月我姊姊婚禮舉行的地方。 - end up
結果；下場是
Peter drove the wrong way and ended up getting lost on the other side of the city.
Peter 開車時走錯路，結果在城市另一邊迷路。 - kind of
有一點
These hats are fashionable now, but I think they look kind of silly.
這些帽子現在很流行，但我覺得它們看起來有點蠢。 - in particular
特別；尤其
I love the view from this place, in particular when the sun is going down.
我很愛這個地方看出去的景色，尤其是當太陽下山的時候。
