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There are a number of areas in the brain that are very important in social decision making and moral attitudes.
大脑中有很多区域对社会决策和道德态度非常重要
And there's a more primitive part of the brain that deals with emotion called the limbic system.
大脑中有一个更原始的处理情绪的部分叫做边缘系统
In the limbic system there is a small organ called the amygdala that registers emotion
在边缘系统中 有一个叫做杏仁核的小器官 它记录着情绪
but particularly has an ability to recognize when somebody else out there has a fearful face or is in a state of fright or upset.
尤其是当别人脸上有恐惧 或者处于恐惧或不安的状态时 它能够识别出来
The interesting thing about the kind of coldhearted murderers is that their amygdalas don't function properly the way ours does
有趣的是 冷酷杀手的杏仁核并不会像我们那样正常工作
and they may recognize, dimly, that so and so out there is afraid, but they don't have the concern that you or I would, let's say,
他们或许能模糊地识别出来恐惧 但他们不像你我这样会去关心 比如说
if we saw a crying kid in a department store who probably got separated from its mother.
如果我们看到一个孩子在百货商店哭泣 他可能是跟母亲走散了
They would recognize it but they would take advantage of the child, pretend to take it to the information booth to get it reconnected with its mom and then kidnap the kid or something like that.
精神病患者能识别出来 但他们会利用这个孩子 假装带他去问讯处 帮他找妈妈 但却绑架这个孩子之类的
Another important area is the front part of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex.
另一个重要的区域是大脑前部的眶额皮层
That area is involved in moral decision making, figuring out what's right versus what's wrong, that we learn as we grow up and are instructed by our parents and our teachers.
这个区域负责到道德决策 区分什么是对的 什么是错的 这是我们在成长过程中习得的 是我们的父母和老师教给我们的
So if that area of the brain is not operating at full tilt it may be possible then to carry out an act which would be repugnant and very much against the law.
所以 如果大脑的那个区域没有全力运转 那么人就可能做出让人厌恶、非常违法的行为
But think of the orbitofrontal cortex as A kind of a braking system which, if it's operating, will put the brakes on a thought or a desire that may have preceded it
但把眶额皮层当成一个刹车系统 如果它能正常运行的话 它会给某种想法或者冲动按下刹车键
that 'I'd like to kill that son of a bitch' or 'I want to take that kid and kidnap him.'
比如“我要杀了那个混蛋”或者“我想绑架那个孩子”
Then when thinking of the consequences, 'Oh my god, I'd be eating cheese sandwiches in jail for the rest of my life. I won't go there.'
然后我们会考虑到这么做的后果 “天哪 我剩下的日子都要在监狱里啃三明治了我不要这样”
But if that cortex is not operating the person would just go ahead and do it.
但如果眶额皮层没有工作 那么那个人就会真的去做那些事
