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.

遇到危险时，人类会本能地靠近其他人，这似乎看起来是一种无私的行为--但是据科学家们表示，我们这样做事实上只是为了保护自己。

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

一项最新研究发现，人们遇到惊吓时抓紧别人只是为了自保，而不是为了救别人。

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

在加拿大尼亚加拉大瀑布一个名叫“Nightmares Fear”的景点中，该理论在游客身上得到了验证。

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.

在观看了460张游客经受恐惧的照片后，研究人员发现四分之三的人在受到惊吓时会抓紧别人，而妇女和儿童最有可能这样做。

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

瑞士纳沙泰尔大学得出结论称，他们这样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.

这是因为当身处一个更大群体中时，人们一旦抓住身边的人之后就不太愿意再放开他们，这就意味着他们的这一举动可能只是为了保护自己。

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.'

来自法国国立卫生和医学研究所联合作者朱莉·格雷泽表示：“这种行为可能是人类自保的一种手段。但是却也说明，人类如此行事只是为了自保，而不是出于无私的目的。”

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.

遇到危险时，人类会本能地靠近其他人，这似乎看起来是一种无私的行为--但是据科学家们表示，我们这样做事实上只是为了保护自己。

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

一项最新研究发现，人们遇到惊吓时抓紧别人只是为了自保，而不是为了救别人。

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

在加拿大尼亚加拉大瀑布一个名叫“Nightmares Fear”的景点中，该理论在游客身上得到了验证。

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.

在观看了460张游客经受恐惧的照片后，研究人员发现四分之三的人在受到惊吓时会抓紧别人，而妇女和儿童最有可能这样做。

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

瑞士纳沙泰尔大学得出结论称，他们这样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.

这是因为当身处一个更大群体中时，人们一旦抓住身边的人之后就不太愿意再放开他们，这就意味着他们的这一举动可能只是为了保护自己。

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.'

来自法国国立卫生和医学研究所联合作者朱莉·格雷泽表示：“这种行为可能是人类自保的一种手段。但是却也说明，人类如此行事只是为了自保，而不是出于无私的目的。”