If you want to convince the boss you deserve a pay rise or promotion, the solution could be simple – eat the same food they do.
如果你想說服老板給你加薪或升職，很簡單，老板吃什么，你就跟著吃什么。

Psychologists have discovered managers - and even total strangers - are much more likely to instantly trust us if we choose the same dishes as them.
心理學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)，和經(jīng)理們（乃至陌生人）吃同樣食物的人更容易即刻獲得他們的信任。

During experiments, discussions over wages and work conditions were much more successful if both sides chose to snack on the same treats.
在實(shí)驗中，若交談雙方所吃食物相同，那么有關(guān)工資及工作環(huán)境的討論更可能獲得成功。

And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time.
如果電視購物推銷員所吃食物類似于觀眾正在吃的東西，那么觀眾更有可能購買他們的產(chǎn)品。

The reason is thought to be so-called similarity attraction theory – where people tend to like others who have similar tastes or habits to themselves.
所謂的相似相吸理論可以解釋這些現(xiàn)象，該理論認(rèn)為人們更喜歡那些品味或習(xí)慣相似的人。

But this is believed to be one of the first studies highlighting the role of food in this relationship.
這項研究據(jù)認(rèn)為是指出食物影響信任關(guān)系的首批研究之一。

Researchers at Chicago University in the US conducted a series of experiments to examine food’s role in earning trust.
為探尋食物對贏得信任的影響，美國芝加哥大學(xué)的研究人員進(jìn)行了一系列實(shí)驗。

In one, volunteers played the part of either manager or union leader trying to reach a wage settlement and end a strike.
在第一個實(shí)驗中，志愿者們或扮演經(jīng)理，或扮演工會負(fù)責(zé)人，雙方試圖就工資標(biāo)準(zhǔn)達(dá)成一致，并解決罷工問題。

Each player scored points according to how few offers it took to reach a deal on hourly wages – since the goal for both sides was settle the strike.
確定時薪標(biāo)準(zhǔn)前，雙方交涉次數(shù)的多少決定了參與者的分?jǐn)?shù)——因為他們的談判目的在于解決罷工問題。

The volunteers were all given a choice of chocolate bars or crisps to snack on.
談判時，志愿者可以吃巧克力棒或薯片。

The results, in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, showed more points were scored – and deals reached more quickly – when both sides snacked on the same sweet or salty treats.
發(fā)表在《消費(fèi)者心理學(xué)》期刊上的研究結(jié)果顯示：若談判雙方同吃甜食或咸食，則交涉次數(shù)更少，參與者得分更高。

In a report on the results researchers said: ‘We found when negotiators consumed similarly, they felt closer and were able to come to a faster resolution beneficial for both parties.’
研究人員在實(shí)驗結(jié)果報告中稱：“我們發(fā)現(xiàn)談判雙方同吃一種食物時，更易親近對方，同時也能更快達(dá)成雙贏的結(jié)果?！?/p>

In a second test, participants were told to watch TV testimonials – where someone pretending to be a member of the public endorsed a certain product.
在第二個實(shí)驗中，參與者需要觀看電視上的推薦節(jié)目，某個假扮普通民眾的人會向他們推薦某產(chǎn)品。

The volunteers were given Kit Kat bars to nibble, while the TV person ate either a Kit Kat or grapes as they talked.
志愿者們一邊看電視，一邊小口吃奇巧巧克力棒，而推薦人在說話時或吃奇巧巧克力棒，或吃葡萄。

Tests showed viewers were much more likely to express an interest in buying the product if the TV showed the other person eating a Kit Kat too.
實(shí)驗顯示，志愿者在推薦人吃巧克力棒時，更愿意購買產(chǎn)品。

The researchers added: ‘Although similarity in food consumption is not indicative of whether two people will get along, we find consumers treat this as such.
研究人員補(bǔ)充說：“盡管食物消費(fèi)方面的相似性并非二人能和睦相處的標(biāo)志，但我們發(fā)現(xiàn)消費(fèi)者的想法如下：

‘They feel more trusting of those who consume as they do.
“他們覺得吃同一種東西的人更值得信任。

‘It means people can immediately begin to feel camaraderie and develop a bond, leading to smoother transactions from the start.’
“這意味著他們會馬上將對方視為同類，并與之建立聯(lián)系，于是交易從一開始就變得更加順利?！?/p>

Harley Street psychologist Dr Lucy Atcheson said it was already known that wearing similar clothes could instantly evoke trust. But this was the first report that food had the same effect.
哈利街的心理學(xué)博士露西·艾奇遜說，我們早就知道穿相似的衣服會讓雙方瞬間產(chǎn)生信任感，但見到證明食物也會帶來相同效果的報告還是頭一次。

She said: ‘This is really interesting.
她說：“這個實(shí)驗真的很有趣。

‘It makes sense as people feel they have common ground and can trust the other person.
“它讓人們覺得彼此間有共同之處，因而他們可以信任對方。

‘That means negotiations are more likely to be successful.’
“這意味著談判更容易達(dá)成一致?！?/p>

Vocabulary

camaraderie: 友情；同志之愛

英文來源：每日郵報
翻譯：周瑾（中國日報網(wǎng)愛新聞iNews譯者）
審校&編輯：丹妮