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The Psychology of Engineers

Kris Arnold
October 07, 2013

The Psychology of Engineers

From a tech talk at Shutterstock about Introversion/Extroversion and Flow. Hear the the talk at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c23CKN0fbcQ

Kris Arnold

October 07, 2013
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  1. Introverts Extroverts Energized by being alone Energized by socializing Meaning

    of events Plunge into events Work slowly and deliberately Work quickly Focus on one task at a time Comfortable “multi-tasking” Comfortable with solitude Prefer groups Prefer people in friendly context Prefer people they compete with
  2. Introverts Extroverts Energized by being alone Energized by socializing Meaning

    of events Plunge into events Work slowly and deliberately Work quickly Focus on one task at a time Comfortable “multi-tasking” Comfortable with solitude Prefer groups Prefer people in friendly context Prefer people they compete with
  3. Introverts Extroverts Energized by being alone Energized by socializing Meaning

    of events Plunge into events Work slowly and deliberately Work quickly Focus on one task at a time Comfortable “multi-tasking” Comfortable with solitude Prefer groups Prefer people in friendly context Prefer people they compete with
  4. Introverts Extroverts Energized by being alone Energized by socializing Meaning

    of events Plunge into events Work slowly and deliberately Work quickly Focus on one task at a time Comfortable “multi-tasking” Comfortable with solitude Prefer groups Prefer people in friendly context Prefer people they compete with
  5. Introverts Extroverts Energized by being alone Energized by socializing Meaning

    of events Plunge into events Work slowly and deliberately Work quickly Focus on one task at a time Comfortable “multi-tasking” Comfortable with solitude Prefer groups Prefer people in friendly context Prefer people they compete with
  6. Introverts Extroverts Energized by being alone Energized by socializing Meaning

    of events Plunge into events Work slowly and deliberately Work quickly Focus on one task at a time Comfortable “multi-tasking” Comfortable with solitude Prefer groups Prefer people in friendly context Prefer people they compete with
  7. Introverts Extroverts Energized by being alone Energized by socializing Meaning

    of events Plunge into events Work slowly and deliberately Work quickly Focus on one task at a time Comfortable “multi-tasking” Comfortable with solitude Prefer groups Prefer people in friendly context Prefer people they compete with
  8. Introverts • Listen more than they talk • Think before

    they speak • Might express themselves better in writing
  9. Introverts • Listen more than they talk • Think before

    they speak • Might express themselves better in writing • Dislike phone calls
  10. Introverts • Listen more than they talk • Think before

    they speak • Might express themselves better in writing • Dislike phone calls • Better at delaying gratification
  11. Extroverts • Enjoy the “thrill of the chase/hunt” • Driven

    by rewards • Need more outside stimulation
  12. Extroverts • Enjoy the “thrill of the chase/hunt” • Driven

    by rewards • Need more outside stimulation • More prone to overconfidence
  13. Introverts Extroverts Kind manner Aggressive language Avoid conflict Less conflict

    avoidance Few topics More topics Serious topics Lighter topics Talking with extroverts: find conversing easy Talking with introverts: less pressure to appear upbeat
  14. Introverts Extroverts Kind manner Aggressive language Avoid conflict Less conflict

    avoidance Few topics More topics Serious topics Lighter topics Talking with extroverts: find conversing easy Talking with introverts: less pressure to appear upbeat
  15. Introverts Extroverts Kind manner Aggressive language Avoid conflict Less conflict

    avoidance Few topics More topics Serious topics Lighter topics Talking with extroverts: find conversing easy Talking with introverts: less pressure to appear upbeat
  16. Introverts Extroverts Kind manner Aggressive language Avoid conflict Less conflict

    avoidance Few topics More topics Serious topics Lighter topics Talking with extroverts: find conversing easy Talking with introverts: less pressure to appear upbeat
  17. Introverts Extroverts Kind manner Aggressive language Avoid conflict Less conflict

    avoidance Few topics More topics Serious topics Lighter topics Talking with extroverts: find conversing easy Talking with introverts: less pressure to appear upbeat
  18. Introverts Extroverts Kind manner Aggressive language Avoid conflict Less conflict

    avoidance Few topics More topics Serious topics Lighter topics Talking with extroverts: find conversing easy Talking with introverts: less pressure to appear upbeat
  19. Communication • Introverts do talk a lot… when they are

    talking about something they are passionate about
  20. Communication • Introverts do talk a lot… when they are

    talking about something they are passionate about • Extroverts better at extemporaneous speaking
  21. Communication • Introverts do talk a lot… when they are

    talking about something they are passionate about • Extroverts better at extemporaneous speaking • Introverts tend to conduct small talk at the end, not beginning, of conversations
  22. Shyness • Shyness != introversion • Shyness due to perceived

    judgement of others • Introversion due to overstimulation
  23. Shyness • Shyness != introversion • Shyness due to perceived

    judgement of others • Introversion due to overstimulation • Overlap
  24. Reactivity • Expose babies & children to novel stimuli, measure

    reaction • High reactives • Low reactives
  25. Reactivity • Expose babies & children to novel stimuli, measure

    reaction • High reactives • Low reactives • In between
  26. Reactivity • Expose babies & children to novel stimuli, measure

    reaction • High reactives (20%) • Low reactives (40%) • In between (40%)
  27. Lemon Juice Experiment • Put a drop of lemon juice

    on a person's tongue • Measure how much saliva they produce
  28. Lemon Juice Experiment • Put a drop of lemon juice

    on a person's tongue • Measure how much saliva they produce • Introverts tend to produce more than extroverts
  29. Solitude • Value deliberate solo practice/work, it develops talent •

    Top-performing programmers have the most privacy, personal space, and freedom from interruption at work
  30. Solitude • Value deliberate solo practice/work, it develops talent •

    Top-performing programmers have the most privacy, personal space, and freedom from interruption at work • Open-plan offices reduce productivity
  31. Extrovert Ideal • Talkative people rated as smarter, better looking,

    more interesting • Business schools encourage extroversion
  32. Extrovert Ideal • Talkative people rated as smarter, better looking,

    more interesting • Business schools encourage extroversion • “speak with conviction” even when uncertain
  33. Extrovert Ideal • Talkative people rated as smarter, better looking,

    more interesting • Business schools encourage extroversion • “speak with conviction” even when uncertain • “Don’t think about the perfect answer. It's better to get out there and say something than to never get your voice in.”
  34. Extrovert Ideal • Talkative people rated as smarter, better looking,

    more interesting • Business schools encourage extroversion • “speak with conviction” even when uncertain • “Don’t think about the perfect answer. It's better to get out there and say something than to never get your voice in.” • “It’s so easy to confuse schmoozing ability with talent.”
  35. Leadership • Extroverted leaders enhance performance of passive employees •

    Introverted leaders enhance performance of proactive employees
  36. Faking It • Introverts can act like extroverts when they

    are doing something they value • Self-monitoring
  37. Faking It • Introverts can act like extroverts when they

    are doing something they value • Self-monitoring • Smile
  38. Faking It • Introverts can act like extroverts when they

    are doing something they value • Self-monitoring • Smile • Sit/stand up straight
  39. Faking It • Introverts can act like extroverts when they

    are doing something they value • Self-monitoring • Smile • Sit/stand up straight • Make eye contact
  40. State of Flow • Totally engaged with an activity •

    “In the zone” • Immersed • Not paying attention to:
  41. State of Flow • Totally engaged with an activity •

    “In the zone” • Immersed • Not paying attention to: • surroundings
  42. State of Flow • Totally engaged with an activity •

    “In the zone” • Immersed • Not paying attention to: • surroundings • feelings
  43. Motivation • Pursue an activity for its own sake, not

    for rewards • Autotelic personality
  44. Motivation • Pursue an activity for its own sake, not

    for rewards • Autotelic personality • Curiosity
  45. Motivation • Pursue an activity for its own sake, not

    for rewards • Autotelic personality • Curiosity • Persistence
  46. Motivation • Pursue an activity for its own sake, not

    for rewards • Autotelic personality • Curiosity • Persistence • Intrinsic motivation
  47. Multi-tasking • No one is really multi-tasking • Brain is

    rapidly switching attention between tasks
  48. Multi-tasking • No one is really multi-tasking • Brain is

    rapidly switching attention between tasks • Slower
  49. Multi-tasking • No one is really multi-tasking • Brain is

    rapidly switching attention between tasks • Slower • Act less intelligent
  50. Multi-tasking • No one is really multi-tasking • Brain is

    rapidly switching attention between tasks • Slower • Act less intelligent • Trains brain for distraction