On the news shows, we hear a near-constant refrain from economists and politicians about the importance of consumer spending and economic growth, and around $150 billion are spent most years to embed consumer messages in every conceivable space, from TV shows and websites to public bathrooms and escalator handrails.

在新聞節目中，我們幾乎經常聽到經濟學家和政治家們反覆強調消費支出和經濟增長的重要性，每年大約花費 1500 億美元將消費資訊植入從電視節目和網站到公共浴室和自動扶梯扶手等一切可以想象到的空間。

Lately, marketers have even been paying actors to drop sales pitches into conversations in bars and city parks.

最近，營銷人員甚至花錢請演員在酒吧和城市公園的談話中進行推銷。

But commercialization and consumerism also reach deeper, worming their way into people's psyches and encouraging them to organize their lives around higher salaries and owning more stuff.

但是，商業化和消費主義也會深入人心，鑽進人們的心理，鼓勵他們圍繞更高的薪水和擁有更多的東西來安排自己的生活。

Unfortunately, this can come at a high price for the well-being of both people and the planet.

不幸的是，這可能會為人類和地球的福祉付出高昂的代價。

Research consistently shows that the more that people value materialistic aspirations and goals, the lower their happiness and life satisfaction, and the fewer pleasant emotions they experience day-to-day.

研究一致表明，人們越重視物質追求和目標，他們的幸福感和生活滿意度就越低，日常體驗到的愉悅情緒就越少。

Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse also tend to be higher among people who value the consumer society.

在重視消費社會的人群中，抑鬱、焦慮和藥物濫用的比例也往往較高。

Strong materialistic values also influence our social relationships, and thereby affect other people's well-being.

強烈的物質主義價值觀還會影響我們的社會關係，進而影響他人的福祉。

Scientists have found that materialistic values and prosocial values are like a seesaw.

科學家發現，物質主義價值觀和親社會價值觀就像一個蹺蹺板。

As materialistic values go up, prosocial values tend to go down.

隨著物質價值的上升，親社會價值往往會下降。

This helps explain why people act in less empathic, generous, and cooperative ways when money is on their minds.

這有助於解釋為什麼人們在考慮金錢問題時，會表現得不那麼感同身受、慷慨和合作。

When people are under the sway of materialism, they also focus less on caring for the earth.

當人們被物質主義所左右時，也會減少對地球的關注。

The same type of seesaw is at work here.

同樣的蹺蹺板在這裡也起著作用。

As materialistic values go up, concern for nature tends to go down.

隨著物質價值的上升，對自然的關注往往會下降。

Studies show that when people strongly endorse money, image, and status, they are less likely to engage in ecologically beneficial activities, like riding bikes, recycling, and reusing things in new ways.

研究表明，當人們強烈認可金錢、形象和地位時，他們就不太可能參與有益於生態的活動，比如騎自行車、回收和以新的方式重複使用物品。

Clearly, if we hope to have a happier, more socially just, and more ecologically sustainable world, then we need to develop ways to diminish the power of materialistic values in our personal lives and in society.

顯然，如果我們希望擁有一個更加幸福、更加社會公正、更加生態可持續發展的世界，那麼我們就必須想方設法削弱物質主義價值觀在個人生活和社會中的影響力。

Two basic principles for change can help frame the way forward.

改革的兩個基本原則有助於確定前進的方向。

First, we need to understand what causes people to prioritize materialistic values.

首先，我們需要了解是什麼導致人們把物質價值放在首位。

For instance, studies show that people focus more on material things when they feel insecure.

例如，研究表明，當人們感到不安全時，會更關注物質方面的東西。

So, instead of buying a new handbag or power tool the next time you've had a blow to your self-esteem, consider a different coping strategy, like spending time with friends or taking a walk outside.

是以，下次當你的自尊心受到打擊時，與其買一個新的手提包或電動工具，不如考慮換一種應對策略，比如與朋友共度時光或到戶外散散步。

Scientists also know that the more that people are exposed to the media, the more they prioritize materialistic values.

科學家們還知道，人們接觸媒體越多，就越把物質價值觀放在首位。

A couple of ways to diminish the onslaught of consumer messages are to use Adblock to But these steps can only take us so far.

有幾種方法可以減少消費者資訊的衝擊，如使用 Adblock，但這些措施只能到此為止。

We also need to get active and start to remove advertising from public spaces and from our children's schools so that people aren't exposed to materialistic messages so often.

我們還需要積極行動起來，開始清除公共場所和孩子們學校裡的廣告，這樣人們就不會經常接觸到物慾橫流的資訊。

The second principle for change involves promoting intrinsic values, for growing as a person, being close to one's family and friends, and improving the broader world.

第二項變革原則涉及促進內在價值，促進個人成長、親近家人和朋友，以及改善更廣闊的世界。

The research shows that intrinsic values not only promote personal, social, and ecological well-being, but can also act to immunize people against materialism.

研究表明，內在價值不僅能促進個人、社會和生態福祉，還能使人們免受物質主義的侵擾。

It's that see-saw again.

又是蹺蹺板。

As intrinsic values go up, materialistic values tend to go down.

隨著內在價值的上升，物質價值往往會下降。

So, part of the trick is to build a life that expresses your intrinsic values.

是以，部分訣竅在於打造一種能體現你內在價值的生活。

That might involve spending more time with people you care about, finding meaningful work, even if it pays less, and taking part in volunteer opportunities for causes you care about.

這可能包括花更多的時間與你關心的人在一起，尋找有意義的工作（即使薪水較低），以及為你關心的事業參加志願者活動。

But again, changing our lifestyles is not enough.

但是，僅僅改變我們的生活方式還是不夠的。

We also need to advocate for policies that promote intrinsic values.

我們還需要倡導促進內在價值的政策。

For example, countries like France and Bhutan have recognized that they can't only focus on GDP and other measures of economic growth.

例如，法國和不丹等國已經認識到，它們不能只關注國內生產總值和其他經濟增長措施。

Now they are starting to regularly assess citizens' well-being and sense of connection to their communities so as to develop policies that truly encourage these intrinsic values.

現在，他們開始定期評估公民的幸福感和與社區的聯繫感，以便制定真正鼓勵這些內在價值的政策。

Similar efforts are underway in some parts of the United States, but they need more support.

美國一些地區也在開展類似的工作，但它們需要更多的支持。

The grip that consumerism and commercialism have on our world can seem inescapable, and there are certainly powerful forces that push materialistic values on us.

消費主義和商業主義對我們這個世界的控制似乎是不可避免的，當然也有強大的力量將物質主義價值觀推向我們。

But by making changes in our personal lives, and by working for broader societal changes, we can break the hold of materialism and be freer to live our intrinsic values.

但是，通過改變我們的個人生活，通過為更廣泛的社會變革而努力，我們可以打破物質主義的束縛，更自由地實現我們的內在價值。

That in turn would help us to take important steps toward greater personal well-being, a more humane society, and a more sustainable world.

這反過來又會幫助我們邁出重要的步伐，實現更高的個人福祉、更人性化的社會和更可持續的世界。

For more UN videos visit www.un.org

欲瞭解更多聯合國視頻，請訪問 www.un.org