If you want to convince the boss you deserve a pay rise or promotion， the solution could be simple – eat the same food they do。
如果你想说服老板给你加薪或升职，方法很简单-和老板吃相同的食物。

Psychologists have discovered managers - and even total strangers - are much more likely to instantly trust us if we choose the same dishes as them。
心理学家发现，经理-甚至完全陌生的人-更容易马上信任那些和他们选择同样食物的人。

During experiments， discussions over wages and work conditions were much more successful if both sides chose to snack on the same treats。
在实验中，如果双方选择同样的食物，他们在工资以及工作条件上的讨论会更加成功。

And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time。
当消费者看到电视广告中的人此时此刻和自己吃着相似的食物时，他们更有可能购买这个产品。

The reason is thought to be so-called similarity attraction theory – where people tend to like others who have similar tastes or habits to themselves。
人们认为原因在于所谓的“相似吸引理论”-人们往往更喜欢和自己具有相似品味或习惯的人。

But this is believed to be one of the first studies highlighting the role of food in this relationship。
这被认为是强调食物在人际关系中的作用的首批研究之一。

Researchers at Chicago University in the US conducted a series of experiments to examine food’s role in earning trust。
美国芝加哥大学的研究人员进行了一系列实验来测试食物在获取他人信任中的作用。

In one， volunteers played the part of either manager or union leader trying to reach a wage settlement and end a strike。
在其中一项实验中，志愿者扮演经理或工会主席，努力达成工资协议从而结束罢工。

Each player scored points according to how few offers it took to reach a deal on hourly wages – since the goal for both sides was settle the strike。
每位选手的得分根据他在时薪上出价多少来达成最终协议而定-因为双方的目标是解决罢工问题。

The volunteers were all given a choice of chocolate bars or crisps to snack on。
实验组为所有志愿者提供了巧克力棒或薯片当零食，他们可以自由选择。

The results， in the Journal of Consumer Psychology， showed more points were scored – and deals reached more quickly – when both sides snacked on the same sweet or salty treats。
在《消费者心理学杂志》中，结果表明，当双方都吃了甜食或咸的零食，得分会更多-而且会更快达成协议。

In a report on the results researchers said： ‘We found when negotiators consumed similarly， they felt closer and were able to come to a faster resolution beneficial for both parties。’
在一篇关于实验结果的报道中，研究人员称：“我们发现吃相同食物的谈判者会感到更亲近，也会更快达成共赢的解决方案。”

In a second test， participants were told to watch TV testimonials – where someone pretending to be a member of the public endorsed a certain product。
在另一个实验中，参与者被告知看电视推荐节目-人们假装成群众一员夸赞某种产品。

The volunteers were given Kit Kat bars to nibble， while the TV person ate either a Kit Kat or grapes as they talked。
人们为志愿者提供了奇脆巧克力可以慢慢品尝，与此同时电视中的人在说话时吃奇脆巧克力或者葡萄。

Tests showed viewers were much more likely to express an interest in buying the product if the TV showed the other person eating a Kit Kat too。
实验表明，当电视中的人也吃奇脆巧克力时，观众更有意购买他们推荐的产品。

The researchers added： ‘Although similarity in food consumption is not indicative of whether two people will get along， we find consumers treat this as such。
研究者补充：“尽管在食物方面的相似品味并不意味两人能够相处的来，但我们发现这对消费者来说确实如此。”

‘They feel more trusting of those who consume as they do。
“那些吃相同食物的人对他们来说更值得信任。”

‘It means people can immediately begin to feel camaraderie and develop a bond， leading to smoother transactions from the start。’
“这意味着人们能够立即感到友爱并建立联系，从一开始就能达成更加顺利的谈判。”

Harley Street psychologist Dr Lucy Atcheson said it was already known that wearing similar clothes could instantly evoke trust。 But this was the first report that food had the same effect。
哈利街心理学家Lucy Atcheson博士说，人们早已知道穿相似的衣服能够立刻取得信任，但这是第一例报道食物也有相似效果的研究。

She said： ‘This is really interesting。
她说：“这点非常有趣。”

‘It makes sense as people feel they have common ground and can trust the other person。
“人们感到他们有相同点并且信任对方，这很有道理。”

‘That means negotiations are more likely to be successful。’
“这意味着谈判更有可能成功。”