Known sometimes as a wingman or wingwoman, the term originates from fighter jet pilots,

那種麻吉稱為把妹達人或少男殺手，這些詞源自於資深的戰鬥機駕駛員

where the wingman's job is to support and protect the leading pilot. This same dynamic

他們的工作是負責支援主駕駛。同樣的情形可以運用在

is applied when a friend needs support approaching potential partners. But what's the science

當一個你的朋友有看上的對象時。但這策略背後的科學理論

behind this strategy - and do wingmen actually work?

又是什麼？把妹達人這個稱號真的「有影」嗎？

First things first - you look better in a group than you do on your own. One study had

首先，當你融入在群體的時候比獨自存在來的突出。有一個研究

participants evaluate pictures of 300 people and found that faces were significantly more

讓受試者評估三百個人的照片。並且發現當這些面孔若融入在

attractive when they were shown in a group photo compared to the same faces shown on

群體之中，會比單獨出現在照片時來的有魅力。

their own. Another good tactic a squad can use is that of a wild turkey. Wild Turkeys

另外一個團隊計謀則叫做「野火雞戰術」。野火雞

attract mates in a “coalition” where one turkey is “dominant” and the other turkeys

會以聯合的方式來求偶。其中一個為主要求偶者，另一個則在旁協助。

are “helpers”. These helper turkeys wear less colourful plumage - making the dominant

這些幫手會顯得較樸素一些，就是為了讓主要的求偶者

one look like a better catch. And this strategy almost doubles the reproductive success compared

看起來更有吸引力。這個策略幾乎達到雙倍的繁殖效果，

to those turkeys who ride solo.

跟原先單一求偶的情況比起來。

Even male fireflies work together to attract ladies! Fireflies use bioluminescent flashes

甚至連公螢火蟲都會集結起來一起吸引異性呢！螢火蟲用身體發光的原理

to signal a mate. And when male fireflies synchronize their flashes, females responded

向異性求偶。當公螢火蟲團結起來一起發光，母螢火蟲

82% of the time, compared to 3% of the time with asynchronous flashes. So maybe it’s

有82%的機率會回應，比起單獨發光的回應比例3%多出許多。所以

time for your squad to think of a co-ordinated dance?

不如是你與麻吉是時候來個團隊共舞了？

Especially if you’re the wingman to a lance-tailed manakin. Males of this species team up in

尤其如果你是尖尾侏儒鳥中的把妹人物，這種這種鳥類的男性會兩兩組隊

pairs, performing intricate dances - including leaping over one another. But within the group

表演複雜的舞蹈，包含不停地跳過對方。但是在這個雙「鳥」舞裡

there is an alpha and a beta - and the beta never gets lucky. So why be a wingman? A study

總有一個是溫拿，另一個是魯蛇，魯蛇通常運氣很差，所以幹嘛還要成就別人犧牲自己？

that tracked and analyzed DNA of 457 birds found that beta birds, after learning from

研究追蹤且分析了457隻人生失敗組的鳥，發現他們在習得技巧後

the Alpha’s, had a better chance of becoming an alpha the following year.

有更高的機會在第二年成為人生勝利組。

These strategies are often used among males - but what about females? Across cultures,

這些策略都是用在男性，但女性呢？跨越不同文化，

human women tend to be more selective or choosy than men when it comes to partnerships though

女性人類通常時對於選擇伴侶十分挑剔，雖然

significant variation does exist among sexes. After all, females expend more resources in

在不同性別當中還實存在極大差異性。畢竟，女性做為傳宗接代者，

pregnancy, making it important that they choose a partner more selectively. When asked to

選擇傳承的對象當然十分重要。當她們被問到

describe their courtship strategies, interestingly, women were actually more likely to use cooperative

追求真愛的秘招時，很有趣的，她們喜歡利用團隊合作的技巧更甚於男性，

techniques than men, but these techniques were used to avoid partners where there was

不過這些技巧是用來保護同伴遠離她們不喜歡的對象

no romantic interest. Again this certainly varies from person to person, and these studies

但要重申，這些情況仍因人而異， 而且這研究

also only focused on heterosexual behaviour.

只有關於異性戀的行為

How far will the squad go for you? Are they willing to lie? It turns out the closer relationship

你的把妹後援隊會支持你走到多遠？他們會為了你說謊嗎？假如你跟某人的關係越緊密

you have with someone the more likely you are to lie to make them look good. This is

越有可能為了讓他們看起來更棒而願意為他們撒點謊。

why going out with your best friends to the bar can help boost your image.

這就是為何你去酒吧就該跟你的麻吉去，他們可以讓你看起來更驚艷

Looking for love or a fling while in the company of friends is fun and often effective, but just

尋找真愛或投入一段感情的過程有朋友的加入會很有趣而且通常會變得更有效率。

remember that finding romance doesn’t need to be a strategic game where you have to “trick”

但要記住尋找一段羅曼史不一定要是一場充滿戰術的遊戲，那種需要「使詐術」的遊戲

someone - if you just be yourself you are more likely to find someone who likes you

如果你做好自己，更有可能覓得愛上你

for you.

真正樣子的人。

Special thanks to audible for supporting this episode and giving you a free 30 day trial at

特別感謝《有聲書網站》給予這集的贊助，他們將提供免費30天

audible.com/asap. This week we wanted to recommend the book “The Invention of Nature”’

的網站功能試用。這週要推薦的書是 Andrea Wulf 所寫的《大自然的起源》

by Andrea Wulf, which is a fascinating investigation of the relationship between environments around

這本書描述一系列精彩的大調查，揭示環境與人類

the world and their connectedness with humanity! You can get a free 30 day trial at audible.com/asap

彼此之間的關聯有多麼緊密！你可以拿到免費30天的有聲書網站使用權限，

and choose from a massive selection! We love them as they're great when you’re on the

快去發掘裡面的大量叢書！這個好網站不得不推，我們都在期待你的造訪

go.

And subscribe for more weekly science videos!

別忘了訂閱每週最新科學影片！