# of science courses is inversely related with social skills

[Yizzle]

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[deuist]

The more science courses you take, the less socially adept you become.

What do ya'll think? Am I on to something?

No, your socially inept behavior has been reinforced by spending time with other socially inept people. You'll find plenty of liberal arts majors who are bad at conversation, as well as several physics majors who can easily be the life of the party. If you want help with mingling, read one of the many self-help books out there. How to Win Friends and Influence People is still the most popular. If you need your world set straight by someone who probably shares similar views to you, read the last chapter of Scott Adams' book God's Debris

 

[Rafa]

As a sci/nonsci major who took 48 credits total this year, 20 of them science, I've got to disagree. I don't think the science makes you mad - I think you use the science to justify your madness. The general you, of course. If you don't like interacting with people as much, numbers and formulas may seem more efficient. On the other hand, if you prefer people, you might gravitate toward studies that will enable you to understand humanity at more thorough levels. You can still study hard science and keep a mellow personality - it depends on you. To paraphrase Eleanor, no major can make you lose your humanity without your consent.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Do you think science majors are generally worse at communicating because of the antisocial lifestyle they often lead as scientists, or are they less socially adept from the get-go and choose science because it complements their temperament. (I am by no means discounting the many fascinating aspects of science; I absolutely love science, I've just noticed significantly different social abilities between scientists and non-scientists.)

I doubt that anyone enters science because it goes well with their temperament. Now some jobs related to science may be better for those with this temperament. But what about doctors? They also study science yet (ideally) manage to stay personable and most doctors I've met have better than average social skills. Your stereotypical "nerd" enters science maybe because he or she is more introspective or is behind in his or her social skills and finds solace in science. However this is likely not the rule.

I would argue that this is no simple chicken-and-egg argument but rather a combination of both a less social predisposition and conditioning from years of antisocial lab or field work.

In the lab you are often around at least one other person. What about accountants who sit at a computer all day? And what about people who deal with people all day, but in a professional setting rather than a personal one? Professional behavior and casual relationships often don't work in similar ways.

However, for me personally, I used to be very social and now I am simply unable to socialize in the way that I used to; conversation is more difficult for me with non-science people than ever before. I'm more serious than I ever was, and it seems like the more time I spend doing scientific work, the more anal and serious I become.

I doubt science is your problem, maybe its the amout of time you aren't devoting to being social. Nonscience people often dont talk about their respective fields unless they're with others who know about their field, otherwise they sound just as nerdy as a physicist talking about quantum mechanics. They find other things to talk about.

 

[relentless11]

As someone who's been in some science program for the past 8 years, I can say that i've seen my fair share of good and bad communicators in various majors that include but are not limited to science.

Ultimately, being a good communicator depends on the personality rather than field of choice. One of the physician's in my class who was a biochem major as an undergrad is an excellent communicator. Conversely, some of the engineers that I know are really bad at communicating. It all depends, and I am sure that the non-science people also have their mix of good and bad communicators.

As a science major, I still converse with people. Its has difficult as you make it, or as easy as you make it.