VOA标准英语2012--Study: Heavy Facebook Users Less Happy

Study: Heavy Facebook Users Less Happy

Students at George Mason University in Virginia were asked how many friends they have on Facebook. “Um, I’ve never actually stopped and looked at it. Probably somewhere between 350 and 400,” responded one student. Another stated, “I would definitely be on Facebook all the time and be like ‘Wow, she’s here, he’s there’.” Finally, a student noted¹, “I’m a heavy user. I rely a lot on it. I find myself checking it multiple times a day."
Researchers at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah wanted to see if all that time watching people on Facebook affected² how users saw - not themselves - but others.
They asked 425 undergraduates if other people have better and happier lives.
Then they surveyed those students on their use of Facebook - looking at how long they had been Facebook users or how many hours a week they spend following Facebook friends.
They found the students who were more involved with Facebook were more likely to think other people’s lives were happier and better. This was especially true among students who included more strangers on their Facebook accounts.
Psychologist Tod Kashdan studies happiness and well-being³ at George Mason University and has read the Utah findings. “They’re hearing all these great things happening from other people and they’re making a downward comparison to themselves. They’re viewing themselves as ‘My life isn’t as interesting or satisfying as other people’s lives look like’,” he explained.
The authors of the Utah study say the results may be due to a psychological effect called “correspondence bias”.
That’s when we make judgments⁴ about someone based on their disposition⁵ or personality while ignoring their actual life circumstances.
In the case of Facebook use, it’s easy to assume Facebook friends are always as happy as they appear on their profiles because they are not posting negative attributes or events, only positive ones.
These students say they had similar feelings about what they saw on Facebook during high-school but that, in college, they are more aware of the effect it has on them.
“I give people the impression that my life is perfect and there’s nothing wrong with it when there is so much [wrong], so it’s really false," Nicolle May stated. "It’s like someone else completely with my face.”
“I’m aware that whatever people posted on Facebook isn’t necessarily what their entire life is made of. I feel like people put a fake picture of themselves and try to make themselves look a lot better than they actually are in real life when they're on-line,” Maram Mohamed said.
Psychologists say Facebook and other social media can be valuable tools to connect with people and the world. But that assurance does come with a warning. “Don’t spend a lot of time just looking at other people’s positive events. Share your own and see who are your true friends, who really cares for the things that happen to you,” Kashdan stated.
Psychologists also say Facebook users can lessen⁶ the effects highlighted in the Utah study by focusing on their real friends on Facebook, and not on the “Facebook friends” they may hardly even know.

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

4 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

5 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

6 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。