Preface : Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

不只是“好天气朋友”

      Introduction

女儿萝恩出生后一星期，我和太太邦妮真是精疲力尽。每晚萝恩都把我们哭醒，邦妮生产时产道破裂，吃止痛药还是几乎不能走路，我请了五天假在家帮忙，我上班后，她似乎比较好了。

A week after our daughter Lauren was born, my wife Bonnie and I were completely exhausted. Each night Lauren kept waking us. Bonnie had been torn in the delivery and was taking painkillers. She could barely walk. After five days of staying Home to help, I went back to work. She seemed to be getting better.

她药吃完了，没有告诉我，我弟弟来探望她时，她却请他帮忙去买。我弟弟一出门就没有回来，因此，她忍着一整天的痛照顾新生儿。

While I was away she ran out of pain pills. Instead of calling me at the office, she asked one of my brothers, who was visiting, to purchase more. My brother, however, did not return with the pills. Consequently, she spent the whole day in pain, taking care of a newborn.

我不知道她那天的惨状，当我回家时，她很难过，而我误以为她是因压力而责备我。

I had no idea that her day had been so awful. When I returned Home she was very upset. I misinterpreted the cause of her distress and thought she was blaming me.

    她说：“我一整天都在痛.....止痛药没了。我在床上躺一整天，根本没人关心我。”我自卫的说:“你为什么不打电话给我？”

She said, "I've been in pain all day.... I ran out of pills. I've been stranded in bed and nobody cares!" I said defensively, "Why didn't you call me?"

她说：“我请你弟弟去买，他忘记了！我整天都在等他回来。我还能做什么？我几乎不能走路。我好像给遗弃了！”

She said, "I asked your brother, but he forgot! I've' been waiting for him to return all day. What am I supposed to do? I can barely walk. I feel so deserted!"

这时我爆发了。我那天情绪也很不稳，我气她没有打电话给我，气她在我不知道她痛的情况下骂我。我们彼此以严厉的字眼责备对方后，我走向门口，我累了、急了、听够了；我们两人都到了极限。然后，改变我人生的事发生了。

At this point I exploded. My fuse was also very short that day. I was angry that she hadn't called me. I was furious that she was blaming me when I didn't even know she was in pain. After exchanging a few harsh words, I headed for the door. I was fired, irritable, and had heard enough. We had both reached our limits. Then something started to happen that would change my life.

邦妮说：“停下来，请不要离开。这是我最需要你的时候。我在痛，我白天都不能睡觉，请听我说。”

Bonnie said, "Stop, please don't leave. This is when I need you the most. I'm in pain. I haven 't slept in days. Please listen to me."

我停下脚步听。

I stopped for a moment to listen.

This incident with Bonnie revealed to me how I could change this pattern.

她说：“约翰．葛瑞，你是个“好天气朋友”！当我是甜美、可爱的邦妮时，你在我这边，但当我不是时，你就会走出门外。”

She said, "John Gray, you're a fair‑weather friend! As long as I'm sweet, loving Bonnie you are here for me, but as soon as I'm not, you walk right out that door."

她停下来，眼睛充满泪水，改变声调说：“现在我正在痛苦中，我无法给你什么，这是我最需要你的时候。请抱着我，什么也不必说，我只要感觉你的手臂环绕着我就好了。请不要走开。”

Then she paused, and her eyes filled up with tears. As her tone shifted she said, "Right now I'm in pain. I have nothing to give, this is when I need you the most. Please, come over here and hold me. You don't have to say anything. I just need to feel your arms around me. Please don't go."

我走过去安静地抱着她，她在我怀里哭着。几分钟后，她向我道谢我没有离开她，她告诉我她只是要感觉我抱着她。

I walked over and silently held her. She wept in my arms. After a few minutes, she thanked me for not leaving. She told me that she just needed to feel me holding her.

在那一刻我才了解无条件的爱的意义。我总以为自己是个有爱心的人，但她说得好，我是个“好天气朋友”，她快乐可爱时我才爱她，她不怏乐成难过时，我因自觉受到责备而和她争论或疏离她。

At that moment I started to realize the real meaning of love, unconditional love. I had always thought of myself as a loving person. But she was right. I had been a fair‑weather friend. As long as she was happy and nice, I loved back. But if she was unhappy or upset, I would feel blamed and then argue or distance myself.

那天，我第一次没有离开她，我留下来了，感觉很好。我成功地在她需要我时给她一些她需要的支持，这种感觉像真的爱情，照顾另一个人，信任彼此的爱，在她需要时寸步不离。我惊叹于用这个方法支持她是多么容易！

That day, for the first time, I didn't leave her. I stayed, and it felt great. I succeeded in giving to her when she really needed me. This felt like real love. Caring for another person. Trusting in our love. Being there at her hour of need. I marveled at how easy it was for me to support her when I was shown the way.

我过去怎会错失这机会呢？她只要我走过去抱着她。别的女性也许马上就可以知道邦妮的需求，但身为男人，我不知道踫触、拥抱、倾听对她有那么重要，知道了这个不同后，我开始学习与太大相处的新方法。我从没想到可以这么轻易地解决冲突。

How had I missed this? She just needed me to go over and hold her. Another woman would have instinctively known what Bonnie needed. But as a man, I didn't know that touching, holding, and listening were so important to her. By recognizing these differences I began to learn a new way of relating to my wife. I would have never believed we could resolve conflict so easily.

改善沟通模式

在我过去的婚姻关系里，每遇到困难时刻我就显得漠不关心、没有爱心，其实我只是不知道自己能做什么。因此，我的第一次婚姻既痛苦又辛苦。和邦妮的这件事使我了解如何改变这种模式，也鼓舞了我花七年的时间研究本书提出的男女关系促进法。学习男女之不同后，我突然了解其实我不必这么卖力经营婚姻，由于了解了彼此的不同，日此我和邦妮便能够改善沟通的方式，并且彼此欣赏。

In my previous relationships, I had become indifferent and unloving at difficult times, simply because I didn't know what else to do. As a result, my first marriage had been very painful and difficult. It inspired my seven years of research to help develop and refine the insights about men and women in this book. By learning in very practical and specific terms about how men and women are different, I suddenly began to realize that my marriage did not need to be such a struggle. With this new awareness of our differences Bonnie and I were able to improve dramatically our communication and enjoy each other more.

持续地研究探讨男女之不同后，我们发现了改善彼此所有关系的新方法，那是我们父母不知道而且无法教我们的。我将我的观察心得与来咨商协谈的人分享后，他们的关系也改善了。成千上万参加我周末研讨会的人，也在一夜之间改善了他们夫妻间的关系。

By continuing to recognize and explore our differences we have discovered new ways to improve all our relationships. We have learned about relationships in ways that our parents never knew and therefore could not have taught us. As I began sharing these insights with my counseling clients, their relationships were also enriched. Literally thousands of those who attended my weekend seminars saw their relationships dramatically transform overnight.

七年后，参加过我的研讨会的个人或夫妻，表示他们还在受惠中。我收到一些夫妻寄来他们与孩子的合照，感谢我挽救了他们的婚姻。虽说是他们自已付出的爱挽救了他们的婚姻，但若不是深入了解对方，他们最后可能仍会走上离婚一途。

Seven years later individuals and couples still report successful benefits. I receive pictures of happy couples and their children, with letters thanking me for saving their marriage. Although their love saved their marriage, they would have divorced if they hadn't gained a deeper understanding of the opposite sex.

苏珊和吉米结婚九年，和大多数夫妻一样，他们以爱结合，但日积月累的挫折与失望，使他们失去当初的热情而决定放弃婚姻。离婚前，他们来听我的周末婚姻关系研讨会。苏珊说：“我们尽力维持婚姻，但却十分困难。”

Susan and Jim had been married nine years. Like most couples they started out loving each other, but after years of increasing frustration and disappointment they lost their passion and decided to give up. Before getting a divorce, however, they attended my weekend relationship seminar. Susan said, "We have tried everything to make this relationship work. We are just too different."

在研讨会中，他们很惊讶得知他们的不同不但很正常而且是应该的。他们很高兴别的夫妻也有相同的问题。才两天功夫，苏珊和吉米对男女就有了新的认知。

During the seminar they were amazed to learn that their differences were not only normal but were to be expected. They were comforted that other couples had experienced the same patterns of relating. In just two days, Susan and Jim gained a totally new understanding of men and women.

他们再度陷入热恋，婚姻关系奇迹似地转变了，他们期待分享生活，也绝口不再提离婚。吉米说：“了解了男女的不同，使我回到我太大身边。这是我从未收过的最佳礼物。我们又再一次彼此相爱。”

They fell in love again. Their relationship miraculously changed. No longer heading toward a divorce, they looked forward to sharing the rest of their lives together. Jim said, "This information about

our differences has given me back my wife. This is the greatest gift I could ever receive. We are loving each other again."

六年后，他们邀请我到他们的新家，和他们的家人见面，他们仍旧彼此相爱，并感谢我帮助他们了解彼此和维持婚姻。

Six years later, when they invited me to visit their new Home and family, they were still loving each other. They were still dunking me for helping them to understand each other and stay married.

新的爱情认知

虽然几乎每个人都同意男女不同，但大多数人却不清楚是如何不同。过去十年，有许多书企图解释男女之间的不同，虽然有了重大的进展，但大多数仍是片面之辞，不幸的是，反而有些资讯煽动对异性的不信任与忿恨，把一方看成是另一方的受害者。要正确了解男女的不同，必须要有明晰的指导。

Although almost everyone would agree that men and women are different, how different is still undefined for most people. Many books in the last ten years have forged ahead, attempting to define these differences. Though important advances have been made, many books are one‑sided and unfortunately reinforce mistrust and resentment toward the opposite sex. One sex is generally viewed as being victimized by the other. A definitive guide was needed for understanding how healthy men and women are different.

改善两性关系必须清楚了解男女之间的不同，以便鼓舞互相信任、个人责任、促进彼此合作、增加爱意以提高自尊。我在研讨会上做了超过两万五千名参与者的问卷后，如今能够以积极的用语解释男女之不同。当你探讨这些不同时，你会觉得愤恨与不信任之墙正逐渐融化中。

To improve relations between the sexes it is necessary to create an understanding of our differences that raises self‑esteem and personal dignity while inspiring mutual trust, personal responsibility, increased cooperation, and greater love. As a result of questioning more than 25,000 participants in my relationship seminars I have been able to define in positive terms how men and women are different. As you explore these differences you will feel walls of resentment and mistrust melting down.

开放心胸使人充满谅解之心，也能够增进给与的动力，这样自已便能收到更多的爱与支持。我希望你带着这个新的认知，甚至超越本书所提的建议，继续发现与异性互爱与支持的方法。

Opening the heart results in greater forgiveness and increased motivation to give and receive love and support. With this new awareness, you will, I hope, go beyond the suggestions in this book and continue to develop ways in which you can relate lovingly to the opposite sex.

本书的理论都曾经过实验，超过两万五千份的个人问卷，结果几乎百分之九十都诚心地表现在本书中。如果你读本书时不断点头说：“是，是，你说的就是我”那么你就不寂寞了，你可以像其他引用本书观点的人一样受惠。

All of the principles in this book have been tested and tried. At least 90 percent of the more than 25,000 individuals questioned have enthusiastically recognized themselves 'm these descriptions. If you find yourself nodding your head while reading this book, saying "Yes, yes this is me you're talking about," then you are definitely not alone. And just as others have benefited from applying the insights in this book, you can as well.

本书详述男女之不同，揭露了减少紧张关系与增进爱情的新方法；也提供加何减少挫折与失望、增进快乐与亲密的实用意见。其实婚姻关系并不需要意力挣扎，只有在我们不了解对方时，才会产生紧张、气愤或冲突。

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus reveals new strategies for reducing tension in relationships and creating more love by first recognizing in great detail how men and women are different. It then offers practical suggestions about how to reduce frustration and disappointment and to create increasing Happiness and intimacy. relationships do not have to be such a struggle. Only when we do not understand one another is there tension, resentment, or conflict.

许多人对婚姻感到挫折，他们爱配偶，但当气氛紧张时，却不知该如何做才能使情况好转。你将因了解男女有多么不同而学到与另一半成功建立关系，运用倾听与支持的新方法。你将学到加何增进你本就应该拥有的爱情。

So many people are frustrated in their relationships. They love their partners, but when there is tension they do not know what to do to make things better. Through understanding how completely different men and women are, you will learn new ways for successfully relating with, listening to, and supporting the opposite sex. You will learn how to create the love you deserve. As you read this book you may wonder how anybody succeeds in having a successful relationship without it.

亲身体会两性差异

 “男女大不同”是爱情关系的指南。男女不只沟通的方式不同，想法、感觉、认知、反应、爱情、需求、表达、感激的态度等等也大不相同；他们几乎是从不同的星球来的，说不同的语言，需要不同的滋养。

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus is a manual for loving relationships( in the I990s). (It reveals how men and women differ in all areas of their lives.) Not only do men and women cornmunicate differently but they think, feel, perceive, react, respond, love, need, and appreciate differently. They almost seem to be from different planets, speaking different languages and needing different nourishment.

详细了解男女之间的不同，有助于解决你正遭遇的挫折，也帮助我们了解异性，不但可以很快化解谈会，也可防止误会的发生。当你记得你与配偶是从不同星球来的不一样的人时，你就会放松自己去配合，而不会一味反抗或试图改变他。

This expanded understanding of our differences helps resolve much of the frustration in dealing with and trying to understand the opposite sex. Misunderstandings can then be quickly dissipated or avoided. Incorrect expectations are easily corrected. When you remember that your partner is as different from you as someone from another planet, you can relax and cooperate with the differences instead of resisting or trying to change them.

最重要的是，从本书中你可学到实用技巧，解决因男女的不同所引起的问题。这本书不仅是心理学差异的理论分析，也是增进爱情关系的最佳指南。

Most important, throughout this book you will learn practical techniques for solving the problems that arise from our differences. This book is not just a theoretical analysis of psychological differences but also a practical manual for how to succeed in creating loving relationships.

书中理论的真实性加何，全在于你的自我证明，也藉由你在亲身经验和常识中肯定它的价值，书中有许多简明的例子表达了你旱已知道的事情，这肯定可以帮助你在彼此的关系中不致迷失。

The truth of these principles is self‑evident and can be validated by your own experience as well as by common sense. Many examples will simply and concisely express what you have always intuitively known. This validation will assist you in being you and in not losing yourself in your relationships.

男人通常会对这些观点反应说:“那就是我。你曾了解过我吗？我不觉得我做错了什么。“女人则通常会说;“我先生终于肯听我了，我不需要为了受肯定而吵架。你解释我们的不同时，我先生便渐渐了解。谢谢你！”这是令人鼓舞的时刻，人们学习男人从火星来、女人从金星来的观念后，分享他们的感受。这个了解异性的新课程，其结果不只是立即的，也将是长久的。

In response to these insights, men often say "This is exactly how I am. Have you been following me around? I no longer feel like something is wrong with me." Women often say "Finally my husband listens to me. I don't have to fight to be validated. When you explain our differences, my husband understands. Thank you!" These are but a few of the thousands of inspirational comments that people have shared after learning that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. The results of this new program for understanding the opposite sex are not only dramatic and immediate but also long lasting.

增进爱情关系之旅当然有时会碰上棘手，问题产生在所难免。但这问题既可成为忿恨、拒绝之源，也可成为增进爱情、亲密、关心与信任的机会。本书提出的观点不是消除所有问题的“修理快手”，而是提供你新的方法，让你的两性关系能够成功地支持你在人生中不断出现的问题，有了这个新认知，你就有了获得爱情所需的工具，能够给你的另一半更多的爱，支持地或她的需要。

Certainly the journey of creating a loving relationship can be rocky at times. Problems are inevitable. But these problems either can be sources of resentment and rejection or can be opportunities for deepening intimacy and increasing love, caring, and trust. The insights of this book are not a "quick fix" to eliminate all problems. Instead they provide a new approach whereby your relationships can successfully support you in solving life's problems as they arise. With this new awareness you will have the tools you need to get the love you deserve and to give your partner the love and support he or she deserves.

活用本书讯息

本书提出许多有关男女的概念，你可能发现有些话对你而言特别真实，有此则不然……毕竟每个人有他独特的经验，有时候在我研讨会上的夫妻或个人会以相反的立场，与我分享我所提出的相关例子。发言的这个男人和我陈述的女人有关，发言的这个女人和我陈述的男人也有关，我称这为角色转换。

I make many generalizations about men and women in this book. Probably you will find some comments truer than others ... after all, we are unique individuals with unique experiences. Sometimes in my seminar couples and individuals will share that they relate to the examples of men and women but in an opposite way. The man relates to my descriptions of women and the woman relates to my descriptions of men. I call this role reversal.

如果你发现有角色转换的经验，请你安心，没什么关系。当你和书中所谈的无关时，我建议你忽略它或深入了解你的内在。许多男子为了表现出有爱心和教养，隐藏了自己的男子气概，就像许多女性为了在往重男性权势的工作中讨生活，便隐藏了她们的女性特质。若碰上这种例子，只要运用本书提供的建议、方法和技巧，不只可使你在关系中更热情，也可平衡你的性别特质。

If you discover you are experiencing role reversal, I want to assure you that everything is all right. I suggest that when you do not relate to something in this book, either ignore it (moving on tosomething you do relate to) or look deeper inside yourself. Many men have denied some of their masculine attributes in order to become more loving and nurturing. Likewise many women have denied some of their feminine attributes in order to earn a living in a work force that rewards masculine attributes. If this is the case, then by applying the suggestions, strategies, and techniques in this book you not only will create more passion in your relationships but also will increasingly balance your masculine and feminine characteristics.

我没有直接请出男女为什么不同，这是个复杂的问题，答案可以从生物学之不同、父母之影响、教育、出生顺序，到受社会、历史等影响的文化条件等去挖掘。

In this book I do not directly address the question of why men and women are different. This is a complex question to which there are many answers, ranging from biological differences, parental influence, education, and birth order to cultural conditioning by society, the media, and history. (These issues are explored in great depth in my book Men, Women, and relationships: Making Peace with the Opposite Sex.)

虽然利用本书观点可以立即得到收获，但不能取代心理治疗的需要，也不能为出了麻烦的关系或混乱的家庭做辅导。即使健康的人，在面对挑战时也可能仍需要心理治疗或辅导，我十分相信心理治疗和婚姻辅导可帮助个人做强有力的改变。

Although the benefits of applying the insights in this book are immediate, this book does not replace the need for therapy and counseling for troubled relationships or survivors of a dysfunctional family. Even healthy individuals may need therapy or counseling at challenging times. I believe strongly in the powerful and gradual transformation that occurs in therapy, marriage counseling, and twelve‑step recovery groups.

我仍不断听到人们告诉我，他们从了解男女关系中得到的收获，比做了几年的心理治疗还要大。我相信他们能成功地将我的观点运用到日常的关系和生活中，是因数年来的心理治疗为他们打下了基础。

Yet repeatedly I have heard people say that they have benefited more from this new understanding of relationships than from years of therapy. I however believe that their years of therapy or recovery work provided the groundwork that allowed them to apply these insights so successfully to their life and relationships.

如果我们的过去很混乱，做了多年的心理治疗后仍需一个积极健康的关系图象，本书正提供了这图象。反之，就算我们的过去充满了爱与滋润，但随着时间的改变，我们仍需要维持两性关系和谐的新方法。我相信每一个人都可从本书的观点中获益。我从研讨会参与者和来信中听到的唯一消极回应是：“我希望以前有人告诉我这些事。”

If our past was dysfunctional, then even after years of therapy or attending recovery groups we still need a positive picture of healthy relationships. This book provides that vision. On the other hand, even if our past has been very loving and nurturing, times have changed, and a new approach to relationships between the sexes is still required. It is essential to learn new and healthy ways of relating and communicating. I believe everyone can benefit from the insights in this book. The only negative response I hear from participants in my seminars and in the letters I receive is "I wish someone had told me this before."

　　增进你人生的爱情永不嫌迟。你只需要学习新方法。如果你想与异性有更完美的关系，此书是你最佳的指南。很高兴和你分享“男女大不同”。祝福你永远在智慧与爱情中成长，但愿离婚率降低，幸福的婚姻增加。我们的孩子应该拥有一个更美好的世界。

It is never too late to increase the love in your life. You only need to learn a new way. Whether you are in therapy or not, if you want to have more fulfilling relationships with the opposite sex, this book is for you.

It is a pleasure to share with you Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. May you always grow in wisdom and in love. May the frequency of divorce decrease and the number of happy marriages increase. Our children deserve a better world.