HOW TO TALK ABOUT PERSONALITY TYPES
如何描述个性类型
SESSION 1
第1节
Every human being is, in one way or another, unique.
Everyone’s personality is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Let us examine ten personality types (one of which might by chance be your very own) that result from the way culture, growth, family background, and environment interact with heredity.
And, of course, we begin not with the words, but with the ideas.
每个人都是独一无二的，或以这样的方式，或以那样的方式。
每个人的个性都由基因和环境因素组合决定。
下面让我们剖析10种个性类型（其中一种可能碰巧就是你的个性类型），这10种个性类型是文化、成长、家庭背景和环境与遗传相互作用的结果。
当然，我们从概念入手，而非词汇。
IDEAS
概念
1. me first
以我为先
Your attitude to life is simple, direct, and aboveboard—every decision you make is based on the answer to one question: “What’s in it for me?” If your selfishness, greed, and ruthless desire for self advancement hurt other people, that’s too bad. “This is a tough world, pal, dog eat dog and all that, and I, for one, am not going to be left behind!”
An egoist
这样的人对生活的态度简单、直接、明了——他所做的每个决定都基于对一个问题的回答：“这件事会给我带来什么？”如果他为了得到自我利益而表现出的自私、贪婪和无情的欲望伤害到他人，那只能怪别人太倒霉了。“朋友，这是一个无情的世界，狗咬狗，人人都为自己，而我呢？我在这方面也绝不会落后于他人。”
他是一个egoist（利己主义者）。
2. the height of conceit
自负至极
“Now, let’s see. Have you heard about all the money I’m making? Did I tell you about my latest amorous conquest? Let me give you my opinion—I know, because I’m an expert at practically everything!” You are boastful to the point of being obnoxious—you have only one string to your conversational violin, namely, yourself; and on it you play a number of monotonous variations: what you think, what you have done, how good you are, how you would solve the problems of the world, etc. ad nauseam.
An egotist
“现在大家听好了。你们听说过我赚到了多少大钱吗？我是否告诉过你们我最近的一次成功艳遇？让我来告诉你我的观点——我非常了解，因为我几乎在任何事情上都是专家！”这个家伙的自夸程度已经达到了令人相当厌恶的程度——他用来演奏的小提琴上只有一根琴弦，这根琴弦就是他自己；而在这唯一的一根琴弦上，他却演奏出了太多单调乏味的曲调：他的观点是什么，他做过什么，他有多么优秀，他会如何处理身边的问题，还有很多其他令人作呕的言语。
他是一个egotist（自大者）。
3. let me help you
让我来帮助你
You have discovered the secret of true happiness—concerning yourself with the welfare of others. Never mind your own interests, how’s the next fellow getting along?
An altruist
他已经发现了幸福的真正秘密——将自己和他人的安乐联系起来。他从不考虑自己的利益，从不考虑下一个伙计是否好相处？
他是一个altruist（利他主义者）。
4. leave me alone
离我远点儿
Like a biochemist studying a colony of bacteria under the microscope, you minutely examine your every thought, feeling, and action. Probing, futile questions like “What do other people think of me?”, “How do I look?”, and “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that?” are your constant nagging companions, for you are unable to realize that other people do not spend as much time and energy analyzing you as you think.
You may seem unsocial, yet your greatest desire is to be liked and accepted. You may be shy and quiet, you are often moody and unhappy, and you prefer solitude or at most the company of one person to a crowd. You have an aptitude for creative work and are uncomfortable engaging in activities that require cooperation with other people. You may even be a genius, or eventually turn into one.
An introvert
像一位生物化学家正研究着显微镜下的一团细菌，他每时每刻都在审视自己的观点、体会和行为。他无休无止地在心里唠叨，刨根问底地追问自己一些没有答案的问题：“其他人对我有怎样的看法？”“我看起来怎么样？”“我可能不应该那样说？”因为他意识不到别人根本不会花费那么多时间和精力去像他一样分析他自己。
他看起来可能并不擅长交际，但是他最大的愿望却是被别人喜欢、接受。他可能很害羞，喜欢安静；他经常会情绪化，不开心；他更喜欢独处，或者他宁愿身边只有一个人陪伴，也不要一群人的喧闹。他对于需要创造力的工作颇有天资；而当需要和他人配合时，他就会很不自在。他甚至有可能是个天才，或者最终总会成为天才。
他是一个introvert（内向的人）。
5. let’s do it together
让我们合作吧
You would be great as a teacher, counselor, administrator, insurance agent. You can always become interested—sincerely, vitally interested—in other people’s problems. You’re the life of the party, because you never worry about the effect of your actions, never inhibit yourself with doubts about dignity or propriety. You are usually happy, generally full of high spirits; you love to be with people—lots of people. Your thoughts, your interests, your whole personality are turned outward.
An extrovert
他会是出色的教师、顾问、行政官员、保险代理人。因为他总能全心全意地、热情地被他人的问题所吸引。他从不担心自己的行为会造成怎样的后果，也从来不因担心自己的行为会有损尊严、不合时宜而约束自己，所以他是掌控全局的人。他总是处于兴奋的状态，情绪亢奋，他喜欢和人相处——人越多越好。他的思想，他的兴趣，他的整个人格都是外张的。
他是一个extrovert（外向的人）。
6. neither extreme
与大多数人相同
You have both introverted and extroverted tendencies—at different times and on different occasions. Your interests are turned, in about equal proportions, both inward and outward. Indeed, you’re quite normal—in the sense that your personality is like that of most people.
An ambivert
他既有内向、又有外向的性格倾向——不同的时间和不同的场合表现不同。他的兴趣既内敛，又外张，两者比例大致相同。他的性格符合大多数人的特点，从这个意义上来说，他非常正常。
他是一个ambivert（中向性格者）。
7. people are no damn good
没有人是好东西
Cynical, embittered, suspicious, you hate everyone. (Especially, but never to be admitted, yourself?) The perfectibility of the human race? “Nonsense! No way!” The stupidity, the meanness, and the crookedness of most mortals (“Most? Probably all!”)—that is your favorite theme.
A misanthrope
他愤世嫉俗，他充满怨恨，他疑心重重，他讨厌任何人（尤其是他自己，不过从不承认？）。如果你问：“人类物种真的可以近乎完美吗？”他会说：“胡说！不可能!”大多数人都愚蠢、卑鄙、狡诈（“大多数？可能所有人都是这个死样！”）——这才是他最喜欢讨论的主题。
他是一个misanthrope（厌世者）。
8. women are no damn good
没有一个女人是好东西
Sometime in your dim past, you were crossed, scorned, or deeply wounded by a woman (a mother, or mother figure, perhaps?). So now you have a carefully constructed defense against further hurt—you hate all women.
A misogynist
在他阴暗不幸的过去的某个时刻，他曾被某个女人阻挠、讥笑或者深深地伤害(这个女人或许是一位母亲或者是母亲一样的人？)所以现在，他仔细地构筑了防卫心理，以预防遭到更深的伤害——他憎恨、惧怕所有的女性。
他是一个misogynist（厌恶女人的人）。
9. “marriage is an institution—and who wants to live in an institution?”
“婚姻就是约束——谁又愿意在约束中活着呢？”
You will not make the ultimate legal commitment. Members of the opposite sex are great as lovers, roommates, apartment or house sharers, but not as lawfully wedded spouses. The ties that bind are too binding for you. You may possibly believe, and possibly, for yourself, be right, that a commitment is deeper and more meaningful if freedom is available without judicial proceedings.
A misogamist
他永远不会给出最终的法律承诺。异性成员作为情人、室友、公寓或房屋合租人都是不错的选择，但是他们成为合法婚姻伴侣就不行了。使夫妻紧紧相连的纽带对他来说是过度的束缚。他可能持有这样的信条，而且对他本人来说可能也是正确的，就是无需司法程序的约束、保留自由空间的承诺更为深刻、更有意义。
他是一个misogamist（厌恶结婚的人）。
10. “... that the flesh is heir to...”
“……身心的疼痛无法逃避，这才叫圆满……”
Self denial, austerity, lonely contemplation—these are the characteristics of the good life, so you claim. The simplest food and the least amount of it that will keep body and soul together, combined with abstinence from fleshly, earthly pleasures, will eventually lead to spiritual perfection—that is your philosophy.
An ascetic
自我否定、禁欲、独自冥想——他宣称这些才是幸福生活的特征。只食用维持人类不会死去的、最简单、最少量的食物，禁止享受任何肉体的、人间的乐趣，才能够最终达到精神上的圆满——这就是他的哲学。
他是一个ascetic（禁欲主义者）。
……
