Social Skills?

[Psyclops]

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Alright, time for a little introspection. On average, how good do you think psychologists social skills are? In a field that claims to be made up of experts in human behavior, could it be that they lack that touted expertise in their personal encounters? With Screech on one end of the spectrum and Zach Moris on the other, where do we fall? Feel free to use characters outside of saved by the bell to rate us. Also, do you think there is a difference between researchers and practitioners? I know graduate students in general tend to be a nerdy bunch, but I would hope we were a little better than average. Let me know if this sounds familiar, you're looking through a departments website, they have a link for some kind of photos, you click on it, and then recoil as what appears to be the high school D&D club stares back at you pasty white with glowing red eyes from the flash? Are we more Ferris or Cameron? All I know is that I have seen some mega McGeeks in my years studying psychology. I admit, I have some nerdy tendancies. Most are well repressed, but they are there, hidden beneath the surface, ready to emerge full force when arguing about structural equation modeling. My friends wonder when I will get my courdoroy sport coat with leather patches. What do you guys think.

 

[JatPenn]

 

[codetype4/9]

Fun thread.

I would say the majority of practitioners I have met have the personality for it. I have met some real characters in the profession, Zack Morris types, with pretty sharp “people skills“. Some I could easily see doing stand up comedy. I have also observed a difference in the social skills of grad students and practitioners that prefer doing therapy vs. primarily testing.

On the other hand, a lot of the researchers/professors I have met seem to fall a lot closer to the other end of the spectrum…Screech/Mr. Belding types. The few I have got to know more personally seem to have a fair amount of social skills when teaching their courses, but it doesn’t always extend very far out of situations where they are in control.

Based on a few conventions I have been to though, overall I would say we could all benefit from being a little more elevator conversation savvy.

 

[clinpsychgirl]

researchers prefer their computers to real people, of course!

 

[butterfli73]

First off, I love the Saved By the Bell reference. Screech wasn't so bad (but Zach was definitely my favorite).

Anyway as far as clnicians the ones I have been in contact with seem to be pretty good with social skills, at least in a setting where it is necessary.

But what I can tell you is going on these interviews for grad school, I would say that the majority of students and faculty were very pleasant. However there were quite a few applicants who I could not believe wanted to work with people, as they did not know social skills that 6 year olds do. In addition there were a few profs that I could not believe were licensed clinical psychologists. I am not generalzing or anything but the ones I am referring to happened to all be psychoanalysts (maybe a coincidence not a generalization) and there was one that when I clicked on the picture I did gasp. Another prof during one of my interviews did things that were so socially inept that I think it actually screwed up my interview. (For example he said uh huh with literally about 1 second in between over and over while I was trying to talk and it made me completely forget what i was saying) I later found out he does this all the time at meetings and things and the students are really scared to ever say anything to him 🙂

Overall in my experience though psychologists are just fine socially.

 

[MsAnaF]

this is hilarious....
i completely agree that overall, psychologists could benefit from a little social skills training. i have absolutely had the experience of clicking through psych department web sites and laughing out loud at the dorks staring back at me.
i work in both a research lab as an RA and a hospital as a clinician, and i have found that researchers generally have particular interpersonal skills and personality traits, and clinicians generally have different interpersonal skills and personality traits. i think it is so interesting. but i think that most psychologist, research or clinician, have different ways of interacting in general. i'm not sure if it is a 'lack' of social skills, but defnitely different in some way. maybe spending your day studying human behavior changes the way you interact with humans.

 

[LM02]

Two words - Jesse Spano.

 

[Psyclops]

Two words - Jesse Spano.

Profile:

Name: Jessie Spano

Feminisit by Nature, takes offense to terms such as chick, mama, and babe

Likes: AC Slater whom she always seems to be hanging around, or thinking about

Adventures on the Show: Becomes addicted to caffeine pills in an attempt tohelp her stay up to study

Dreams: to be the ideal student and get into a good College

Acheivements: Student Body President Bayside High School, ValedictorianBay Side High School


Jessica Spano is the ultimate feminist on the Saved by the Bell Show. This is greatly ironic considering after the show she went on to gain fame in the movie Showgirls. Jessie has one step brother that is shown in the series on only one occasion. Jessie enjoys the comfort and confidence she gains in A.C. Slater's presence. This too is ironic considering Jessie's feminist nature and Slater's reputation as a jock.

Jessie stands up for envioronmental causes and helps to stop an oil company from drilling at Bayside. While generally opposed to stereotyes, she falls in line more with that of a jock than a prom queen. During one episide an ROTC (Registered Officers Training Corps) official pits Bayside into two groups. Jessie serves with the jocks.

Jessie worries about college. Her valedictorian nature, and Bayside School Presidency it seems pales in comparison to Zack's 1502 score on the SAT's. On one occasion Jessie so obsesses with doing well in school that she resorts to sleeping pills which she becomes addicted to.

Jessie becomes upset when her dad plans on marrying a far younger bride, an aerobics instructer. She plans to avoid the wedding, but Zack and the gang finally talk her into attending.

Jessie on the show appears to be confident in opinion always, and serves as a person that knows her place in the world. But in reality the contradictions in her character showcase how confused and without purpose Jessie truly is. Maybe this would explain the shift to stripping in Showgirls?

Sounds about right to me.

 

[MI2005]

Who else has met an internationally recognized researcher who also has either narcissistic personality disorder or OCPD? I think there is a disproportionate representation of these disorders among really good researchers, but they also seem to have ok social skills.

 

[Psyclops]

Yes, I find that thosewith NPD also are pretty good with the social skills. OCPD not necessarily.

 

[Jon4PsyD]

Ok well for starters I do agree that many practitioners are very good with people skills. In general I think if they were NOT good people persons...they become it by choosing a field they are good at (and thereby gain confidence in) and work with people ALL the time. If the people skills werent there, they will certainly be in a position to improve.

As for researchers/professors. Honestly, I think we need more people to go into these areas that DO have people skills and hopefully that is what's happening. Because some of the veterans are HORRIBLE. I always thought it was maybe just an issue with the department at my school but after applying to these universities and even meeting some 'big name' professors...I was stunned at how bad they were at communicating. Sometimes I wonder how these people defended their dissertations..but they more credit to them. A lot of researchers, its the same thing. They're just weird almost and out of touch with real life situations. Again Im not meaning to offend people who ARE in these fields.

Then again, the professor (and adjunct) who got me into Psychology and made me have the desire to be a Psych major used to say i nthe beginning of the first class of the semester: "Those of you going into Psychology..there is either something weird about you that made you go into this field because you KNOW it so well or you want to know more about it...or that you had an experience that pushed you toward this career path..."

I always thought that was an interesting spin on it.

 

[Milo]

Two words - Jesse Spano.

She was outstanding in Show Girls. 😉

 

[MsAnaF]

"Those of you going into Psychology..there is either something weird about you that made you go into this field because you KNOW it so well or you want to know more about it...or that you had an experience that pushed you toward this career path..."

I always thought that was an interesting spin on it.[/QUOTE]


I like that. And I agree. I think it is interesting to think about WHY you choose the field of psychology - certainly not for money or prestige, so there has to be some personal reason why. A lot of the people I've met in psychology had expeience with mental illness - either themselves or someone close to them. I work in substance abuse research, and most of the PIs have had a parent or sibling or someone very close to them growing up with a substance abuse problem. very interesting......

 

[Psyclops]

Research is Mesearch

I'm sure we've all heard that one. But it is certainly not always true. Nor am I willing to concede the point that those who suffer from the disorder are going to make better practitioner than those who don't. I think there are plenty of people who go into this field not having had much, if any, personal experience with mental health issues. But I do think that clinical psychology attracts alot of people for "the wrong reasons". I think all of those who plan to practice some day need to ask themselves why they want to do so. Is it because they want to help people? There are many ways to healp people. is it because they will enjoy the power that they will have over others? The therapist role in the therapeutic relationship is one of power. The list goes on. I also don't think that prestige and good salary are mutualy exclusive with a career in psychology. I think that on average psychologists make good money, and for those goin into research there is a fair amount of acclaim and prestige to be had. Personally I don't agree with Jon's professor.

 

[soaringheights]

IMO, the people I have met who came into psychology to deal with their personal issues/coz they feel a need to 'help' people, make the worst sort of practitioners. I 'v often seen them being unable to adopt the frame of reference of the client for conceptualizing her/his difficulties. And as is obvious, this works out to the detriment of the client coz she/he doesnt know psychology, and can't see that it is being misapplied in her/his case. They often force the client to accept their point of view, and empathy for them is sympathy!

Also, some people seem to think that just coz they have the requisite 'peoples skills', they are a cut above, and dont require theory to back their understanding of cases. Highly irritating 😡 Cannot and does not make for a good psychologist

 

[MsAnaF]

I'm sure we've all heard that one. But it is certainly not always true. Nor am I willing to concede the point that those who suffer from the disorder are going to make better practitioner than those who don't. I think there are plenty of people who go into this field not having had much, if any, personal experience with mental health issues. But I do think that clinical psychology attracts alot of people for "the wrong reasons". I think all of those who plan to practice some day need to ask themselves why they want to do so. Is it because they want to help people? There are many ways to healp people. is it because they will enjoy the power that they will have over others? The therapist role in the therapeutic relationship is one of power. The list goes on. I also don't think that prestige and good salary are mutualy exclusive with a career in psychology. I think that on average psychologists make good money, and for those goin into research there is a fair amount of acclaim and prestige to be had. Personally I don't agree with Jon's professor.

certainly not everyone who chooses psych as a profession has had some dramatic experience with mental illness, but in my experience, many have some experience. anyways, there are probably very few people out there who haven't had a friend, family member, or themselves affected by depression, anxiety, eating disorder, or something else. i agree that there are people who go into psychology for the wrong reasons, to make themselves feel better about their own problems or for the power of the therapeutic relationship. but i think there is nothing wrong with wanting to understand yourself - in fact, there IS something wrong if you want to study psychology but have no desire to understand how it relates to your own experiences. i agree with what you said, psychlops, it is really really important for psychologists to think about why they chose this field.
about $, a person with a degree in psych won't be struggling to get by. but lots of people see their job as a way to make money and nothing else, and none of these people would go into psych. it costs too much to get the degree and it barely pays for itself. i have friends who are graduatign law school this year and will be making 100K + their first year out of school. i just hope to one day make 100K! but in my opinion, i'd rather have a satisfying career (which won't exactly leave me broke) than make a ridiculous amount of money.

 

[Psyclops]

I agree entirely. I just hate the impression that many people have that psychologists are all warm and fuzzy and love hugs and stuff. Of course there are worse impression for people to have of your profession but you know....

Also like Soaring Ihate people who go into the field for what I see the wrong reasons. That isn't to say that people wanting to go into the field after overcoming thier own challenges shouldn't. But there truly are some people who should never be in the position a psychologist is with a patient...but I think that has more to do with ethics in general.

 

[codetype4/9]

I came across a recent dissertation that indicated about 95% of psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors report experiencing mental health problems with 84% reporting having been in therapy, and 57% on psychotropic medications. (30-40% reported experiencing stigma and damage to their professional reputation from other providers on account of disclosure of their own problems).

Compare this to the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in the general US population and it makes you think.

Still though, do people become bone surgeons because they are sublimating their desire to cut people?

 

[Psyclops]

CT49, what as the methodology for that dissertation? I'm arguing from a vacuum here but it could be that it was framed in a way that those who had issuew sere more eager to respond. 95% is just to much to believe.

 

[chaos]

Yeah those numbers seem ridiculously high...I'd guess closer to 50% have some kind of mental health problem...then again, I've met a disproportionate number of rather brooding, taciturn psychiatrists and it wouldn't be much of a stretch to guess they had some kind of mood disorder. I've also met a bunch that seem all normal and self-actualized and all that, so unless they're really good at hiding their pathology I doubt they're really psychopaths or something.

 

[clinpsychgirl]

You know what I find interesting- and I'm guessing this might be an generational difference- but have you noticed the type of people who tend to go into clinical psychology today?

Women, of course- but not only are they women, but many of them seem tend to fit this mold of being very well put together. Like a sorority sister. While I, for one, do not fit that mold (though I tried to fake it for interviews😉 ) I feel pressured to try harder with my appearance to keep up to this model of extremely busy stressed out graduate student who still manages to straighten her hair, put on her makeup, and rock her stillettos (or whatever it is that you fashionable people wear) .

 

[Psyclops]

I've heard this complaint (sorority sisters) of clinical students before. I think it's funny. My interviews didn't seem to be comprised of that many girls at all though this year. Alot of dudes. The APA did say this summer it's time to start getting the guys back in, they said it swung to far towards the female end of the gender spectrum.

 

[clinpsychgirl]

I've heard this complaint (sorority sisters) of clinical students before (particularly the Drexel studens, I'm just reporting don't shoot the mesenger). I think it's funny. My interviews didn't seem to be comprised of that many girls at all though this year. Alot of dudes. The APA did say this summer it's time to start getting the guys back in, they said it swung to far towards the female end of the gender spectrum.

It's not a complaint per say. I think its great if a person can pull off being a total hottie in addition to being bright and motivated enough for a graduate career in psychology. It just puts pressure on the rest of us! 😳

I guess this is my perception of the current state of the field of psychology. Not so much laden with psychopathology- but more of the attractive go-getter alpha-(fe)male types.

 

[Psyclops]

Right, you weren't complaining, the other student I spoke to was though. They said the clinical students tended to see themselves as better than the rest, remained aloof, always too "busy" to hang out and made sure eveyone knew it.

 

[clinpsychgirl]

Right, you weren't complaining, the other student I spoke to was though. They said the clinical students tended to see themselves as better than the rest, remained aloof, always too "busy" to hang out and made sure eveyone knew it.

Ah, I see. Are you a male? If so, then its a win-win situation for you!

 

[MsAnaF]

Yeah those numbers seem ridiculously high...I'd guess closer to 50% have some kind of mental health problem...then again, I've met a disproportionate number of rather brooding, taciturn psychiatrists and it wouldn't be much of a stretch to guess they had some kind of mood disorder. I've also met a bunch that seem all normal and self-actualized and all that, so unless they're really good at hiding their pathology I doubt they're really psychopaths or something.

do you remember the citation for that dissertation? i'd be really interested to see the methodology. i wonder if 95% said they have had a diagnosable mental illness, or if that includes symptoms below clinical threshold? maybe psychologists are just more aware of their moods and mental state than others, so they would be more likely to report mood symptoms, you know? but not actual diagnosable mental illness.

also, i wanted to say that i agree about the 'sorority girl' type in clinical psych - i met a lot of these people on interviews, and i am both very impressed and a bit intimidated by them. 🙂 i think that a lot of women who go into psych have a streak of perfectionism, i'm not sure why.
by the way, this is based on my limited experience, i am pretty new to the field!

 

[codetype4/9]

do you remember the citation for that dissertation? i'd be really interested to see the methodology.

Survey data. Not sure how they rounded up the respondents.

Dr. Karen Godfredsen --- Psychologists‚ Psychiatrists‚ and Other Mental Health Professionals‚ Use of Psychoactive Medication and Therapy: The Ongoing Stigma Connected to Psychological Problems and Treatment

Abstract: 152 psychologists, psychiatrists and students in mental health professions were studied to determine the prevalence of mental health problems and treatment among clinicians, to assess clinicians' level of comfort with disclosure of their personal experiences in a variety of settings, and to solicit qualitative data related to stigma and disclosure of use of psychotropic medication and psychotherapy. In particular, it was predicted that clinicians would report less openness about their use of psychotropic medication than their participation in psychotherapy. Results indicated that 95% of clinicians in the sample had experienced mental health problems, with depression, anxiety and adjustment disorder appearing as the most commonly reported diagnoses. With regards to treatment, 84% had at some time participated in psychotherapy, and 57% had taken psychotropic medication at some time. Forty percent of those taking medication reported ostracization by colleagues as a result of disclosure and 30% reported damage to their professional reputation…


I googled and found the measures at http://www.eparg.org/wright/meds/survey.html