Reaching out for others when there's danger might seem like a selfless act – but, according to scientists, we're actually just trying to save our own skin.

遇到危險時，人類會本能地靠近其他人，這似乎看起來是一種無私的行為--但是據科學家們表示，我們這樣做事實上只是為了保護自己。

A study found grabbing hold of another person after a fright was about self-preservation rather than trying to save others.

一項最新研究發現，人們遇到驚嚇時抓緊別人只是為了自保，而不是為了救別人。

The theory was tested on visitors to the Nightmares Fear factory fairground attraction in Niagara Falls, Canada.

在加拿大尼亞加拉大瀑布一個名叫“Nightmares Fear”的景點中，該理論在游客身上得到了驗證。

Looking at 460 photos of visitors after a scare, researchers found three-quarters grabbed someone else, with women and children most likely to do so.

在觀看了460張游客經受恐懼的照片后，研究人員發現四分之三的人在受到驚嚇時會抓緊別人，而婦女和兒童最有可能這樣做。

The University of Neuchatel in Switzerland concluded they were probably acting out of self-interest.

瑞士納沙泰爾大學得出結論稱，他們這樣做可能只是出于私利。

This is because they were less likely to return the grasp of someone who turned to them for help when in larger groups, meaning that the action was to protect themselves.

這是因為當身處一個更大群體中時，人們一旦抓住身邊的人之后就不太愿意再放開他們，這就意味著他們的這一舉動可能只是為了保護自己。

Co-author Julie Grezes, from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, said: 'This happens potentially as a means to protect oneself. But it is an example of people using self-preservation rather than acting out of selfishness.'

來自法國國立衛生和醫學研究所聯合作者朱莉·格雷澤表示：“這種行為可能是人類自保的一種手段。但是卻也說明，人類如此行事只是為了自保，而不是出于無私的目的。”

Reaching out for others when there's danger might seem like a selfless act – but, according to scientists, we're actually just trying to save our own skin.

遇到危險時，人類會本能地靠近其他人，這似乎看起來是一種無私的行為--但是據科學家們表示，我們這樣做事實上只是為了保護自己。

A study found grabbing hold of another person after a fright was about self-preservation rather than trying to save others.

一項最新研究發現，人們遇到驚嚇時抓緊別人只是為了自保，而不是為了救別人。

The theory was tested on visitors to the Nightmares Fear factory fairground attraction in Niagara Falls, Canada.

在加拿大尼亞加拉大瀑布一個名叫“Nightmares Fear”的景點中，該理論在游客身上得到了驗證。

Looking at 460 photos of visitors after a scare, researchers found three-quarters grabbed someone else, with women and children most likely to do so.

在觀看了460張游客經受恐懼的照片后，研究人員發現四分之三的人在受到驚嚇時會抓緊別人，而婦女和兒童最有可能這樣做。

The University of Neuchatel in Switzerland concluded they were probably acting out of self-interest.

瑞士納沙泰爾大學得出結論稱，他們這樣做可能只是出于私利。

This is because they were less likely to return the grasp of someone who turned to them for help when in larger groups, meaning that the action was to protect themselves.

這是因為當身處一個更大群體中時，人們一旦抓住身邊的人之后就不太愿意再放開他們，這就意味著他們的這一舉動可能只是為了保護自己。

Co-author Julie Grezes, from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, said: 'This happens potentially as a means to protect oneself. But it is an example of people using self-preservation rather than acting out of selfishness.'

來自法國國立衛生和醫學研究所聯合作者朱莉·格雷澤表示：“這種行為可能是人類自保的一種手段。但是卻也說明，人類如此行事只是為了自保，而不是出于無私的目的。”