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教学素材 | 为什么承认自己错了如此之难

心理双语阅读考研六级

困难 50

Why It’s So Hard to Admit You’re Wrong

为什么承认自己错了如此之难

词汇：考研 | 句法：六级 | 文本：考研

刘立军供稿

Admitting you’re wrong can be incredibly difficult, even though we know, logically, that it’s an important part of personal growth and learning. The problem lies in the emotions and psychological barriers that arise when we face our mistakes. Let’s explore why acknowledging fault feels so challenging and why doing so is so vital for our development.

承认自己错了可能极其困难，即便从逻辑上讲，我们知道这是个人成长和学习的重要一部分。问题在于当我们面对错误时产生的情绪和心理障碍。下面我们来探讨一下为什么承认错误会感到如此具有挑战性，以及为何这样做对我们的发展至关重要。

Fear of Judgment 害怕被评判

When you admit you’re wrong, you make yourself vulnerable to potential criticism or disappointment. This fear of judgment can trigger feelings of shame or embarrassment, making it tempting to defend your stance even when you know you’re mistaken. People often avoid the discomfort of potential rejection or judgment by staying silent or sticking to their wrong beliefs. However, most people actually value honesty and bravery in owning up to mistakes. In reality, admitting your fault can foster respect, not criticism.

当你承认自己错了，就让自己暴露于潜在的批评或失望之下。这种对评判的恐惧可能会引发羞耻感或尴尬情绪，是我们即使知道自己有误，也忍不住为自己的立场辩解。人们通常通过保持沉默或坚持错误的观点来避免可能面临的拒绝或评判带来的不适。然而，实际上大多数人更珍视勇于承认错误的诚实与勇气。事实上，承认你的错误不会招致批评，反而可以赢得尊重。

Threat to Self-Esteem 威胁自尊

Admitting mistakes can bring up feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. It challenges our sense of self-worth, which often relies on being right or competent. Protecting our self-esteem by denying faults might feel safer, but it ultimately weakens our confidence and growth. When we constantly avoid accountability, we become more focused on appearances rather than self-improvement. Confronting the discomfort of being wrong can strengthen our emotional resilience and lead to a more grounded, confident sense of self.

承认错误会引起不安全感和自我怀疑。它挑战了我们的自我价值感，而这种价值感往往建立在“正确性”与“能力”的基础上。通过否认错误来保护自尊似乎更安全，但最终会削弱我们的信，阻碍成长。当我们不断逃避责任时，我们会更加关注表面形象而非自我提升。直面错误带来的不适能够增强我们的情感韧性，让我们形成更踏实、更稳固的自信心。

Attachment to Identity 对身份认同的依附

Our identities are often built around traits like fairness, intelligence, or responsibility. When we make mistakes, it can feel like a direct challenge to how we see ourselves. For example, if you view yourself as logical, a mistake may feel like a personal attack on your character. However, mistakes don’t define us; they simply reveal areas where we can grow. Embracing our flaws as part of who we are allows for a more balanced and authentic sense of identity.

我们的自我认同，往往围绕着如公平、智慧或责任感等特质建立。当我们犯错时，这可能直接挑战我们对自己的看法。例如，如果你认为自己是理性的，那么一次失误可能会让你觉得是对个人品格的攻击。然而，错误并不能定义我们；它们只是揭示了我们可以成长的领域。接纳自身的缺点，将其视为自身的一部分，可以使我们拥有更加平衡和真实的自我认同。

Need for Control 对控制的需求

Being right can feel like having control over a situation or even over our lives. Admitting you’re wrong can feel like surrendering that control, acknowledging that things didn’t go as planned. This desire to maintain control often leads to defensiveness or denial. Ironically, clinging to control often creates more instability. True control comes not from being infallible but from learning from our mistakes and adapting accordingly.

认为“自己是对的”这种感觉，就像掌握了局面甚至是生活的控制权。承认自己错了可能像是放弃了这种控制权，承认事情并未按计划进行。这种想要维持掌控的渴望，往往会让人产生防御心理或否认错误。讽刺的是，执着于控制往往会制造更多的不稳定。真正的控制不是来自于绝不犯错，而是从错误中学习，并进行相应地调整。

Cognitive Dissonance 认知失调

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort we experience when our actions contradict our beliefs or values. If we’ve acted in a way that goes against our principles, admitting it forces us to confront that discomfort. It’s easier to rationalize our behavior or avoid the issue altogether, but doing so only deepens the internal conflict. Acknowledging mistakes aligns our actions with our values, helping us make better choices moving forward and fostering a deeper sense of authenticity.

认知失调是指，当我们行动与信念或价值观相矛盾时，内心产生的不适感。如果我们的行事违背了自己的原则，承认这一点迫使我们直面这种不适。为我们的行为找借口或完全回避问题会更容易，但这样做只会加深内在冲突。承认错误使我们的行为与价值观保持一致，有助于我们在未来做出更好的选择，并培养更深的真实感。

Emotional Investment 情感投资

The more emotionally invested we are in a belief, a decision, or a relationship, the harder it is to admit we’re wrong. Acknowledging a mistake can feel like invalidating the time and effort we’ve already invested. However, holding onto a wrong choice out of pride or stubbornness only prevents growth. Being able to reassess and change direction when necessary is a sign of maturity and flexibility, not weakness. It allows us to channel our energy into more productive and fulfilling pursuits.

我们对某种信念、决定或关系的情感投入越多，就越难以承认自己错了。承认错误就像是否定了自己已经投入的时间和精力。然而，出于骄傲或固执而坚持错误的选择，只会阻碍成长。能够在必要时重新评估并改变方向是成熟和灵活的表现，而非软弱。这能让我们能够将精力投入到更有成效和令人满意的追求中。

While admitting you’re wrong may be uncomfortable, it’s one of the most powerful ways to grow. Owning up to your mistakes frees you from the burden of denial, strengthens relationships, and fosters personal development. It creates space for learning, self-improvement, and more authentic connections with others. Rather than fearing mistakes, we can learn to see them as opportunities for growth and greater clarity.

虽然承认自己错了可能会让人不适，但这是最有效的成长方式之一。正视自己的错误，能让你摆脱否认带来的负担，巩固人际关系，并促进个人发展。它为学习、自我提升以及与他人建立更真实的联结创造了空间。与其害怕错误，不如学会将其视为成长和认清自我的契机。