觀眾左右比賽結果？
Many have been following the Tokyo Olympics over the past few weeks.
很多人過去幾週都在關注東奧賽事。
follow(v.)密切關注;跟進
What’s weird is that some people seem to think they have control over the games as if they can influence the results in certain ways. How would that be possible?
奇怪的是，有些人似乎能控制賽況，彷彿能以某種方式影響比賽結果。這可能是真的嗎？
have control over=對…有控制權as if=彷彿;像是possible(adj.)可能的
To get to the bottom of this, we need to start with the pigeon experiments done by Burrhus Frederic Skinner.
為了探究此一現象，我們得從史基納的鴿子實驗說起。
get to the bottom of sth.=追根究底experiment(n.)實驗conduct or do an experiment=進行實驗
By putting forward the concept of operant conditioning, Skinner observed how pigeons developed superstitious behavior by making a connection between an action and a result, which turned out to be irrelevant in some cases.
史基納提出了工具制約理論，並觀察到鴿子如何透過將某個動作與結果連結在一起，以此發展出迷信的行為，而事實上在某些情況下動作與結果並無關聯。
put forward=提出operant conditioning=工具制約理論observe(v.)觀察;觀測superstitious(adj.)迷信的superstition(n.)迷信behavior(n.)行為;舉止irrelevant(adj.)不相關的
In Skinner’s experiments, a pigeon was being put in a cage, with a button inside and a mechanism that fed the bird at regular intervals.
在史基納的實驗中，他在籠子裡放了一隻鴿子，裡頭有個按鈕以及固定時段會自動餵食的裝置。
mechanism(n.)機械裝置interval(n.)間隔;間距
The pigeon later associated the push of the button with a reward, thereby believing that by acting in a particular way or committing a certain action, food would arrive.
那隻鴿子隨後將按按鈕與獎勵聯結在一起，進而相信藉由特定行為或某個動作可獲得食物，
associate A with B=將A與B聯繫在一起reward(n.)(v.)獎勵commit an action=做出某個動作commit a crime=犯下罪行
This is what we call “superstition in pigeons.”
這便是所謂的「鴿子的迷信」。
In 1975, Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer identified the illusion of control in her paper.
1975年，哈佛心理學家蘭格在論文中提出「控制錯覺」的概念。
identify(v.)辨認;辨別;發現;確定illusion(n.)錯覺;假象;幻覺have no illusions about sth.=對某事不抱有幻想
She found that people tend to assume that they have complete control over the outcome of a situation in an instance where they actually don’t.
她發現人往往會以為自己能全權掌控事情的結果，但事實並非如此。
tend to RV=往往會做某事assume(v.)假定;以為outcome(n.)結果
One simple form of this is rolling dice in a craps game.
花旗骰擲骰子便是個再簡單不過的例子。
craps(n.)花旗骰(擲骰子的賭博遊戲)
Gamblers tend to throw harder when they want high numbers and softer for low numbers.
玩家想擲出大數字的話往往會比較用力，想擲出小數字則用力較小。
gambler(n.)賭徒gamble(v.)賭博
This illusion occurs in events, such as lotteries and sports matches, where we obviously do not have any effect on the outcome.
這種錯覺常見於抽彩券與運動賽事等情況，這些結果顯然並非我們所能左右的。
occur(v.)發生;出現have an effect on sth.=對…產生影響
And yet, people tend to feel like they have some influence or control over things that simply happen by chance.
然而，人往往以為自己可以影響或控制那些偶發事件。
by chance=偶然