Today News Journal
    What's Hot

    The Chief Justice’s Wife Has Every Right to Her Legal Career

    February 2, 2023

    Biden Faces His Nixon Moment on Alaskan Oil

    February 2, 2023

    Hindenburg Gives a Masterclass. Adani Flunks

    February 2, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Today News Journal
    Contact Us
    • Home
    • Trending
    • Business
    • Health
    • Technology
      • Automobile
      • Gadgets
      • Mobiles
      • Robotics
    • Lifestyle
      • Culture
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Editorials
    • News
      • Politics
    Today News Journal
    Home » News » How Severed Is Your Workplace Personality?
    News

    How Severed Is Your Workplace Personality?

    James MartinBy James MartinApril 23, 2022No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


    Placeholder while article actions load

    Many of the world’s employees have been separated from their workplace for a large chunk of the past two pandemic-disrupted years, and it seems most of us aren’t too keen to go back. Just 3% of white-collar workers want to return five days a week, one survey showed earlier this year. Were it possible, the idea of sending a doppelganger into the office to serve eight hours on our behalf would probably be quite appealing.

    That may be one reason for the popularity of Severance, the Apple TV-plus drama that concluded its first season this month. The dystopian techno-fantasy concerns workers who have chosen voluntarily to have a brain implant that separates their workplace selves from their outside identities, so neither has any knowledge or memory of the other. That’s one way to deal with the pain of abandoning a comfortable work-from-home routine.

    The surreal netherworld of Severance eerily captures the sense of fracturing and disconnection that has pervaded the Covid era. The office on the subterranean “severed” floor is cavernous, sparsely populated and surrounded by a warren of empty corridors lit with antiseptic bright lights. That will resonate with the small minority (such as this writer) who have made an early return to the office. There have been many walks around deserted corridors, and few people to congregate with at the water cooler.

    There are other reasons that Severance has struck a chord, though. It stirs up perennial issues of work-life balance, psychological boundaries and identity. Do the characters have the right to commit another part of their selves to perpetual sequestration in the workplace (particularly one as weird as that of Severance, where the in-office selves inexplicably perform meaningless tasks on ’80s-style computers for trivial rewards). If the two come into conflict, which is the real self?

    The show is an exaggerated metaphor for how we behave in real life. Most of us adopt different personas to some extent in our work and home settings. The pressures are different, clearly. In a professional milieu, the need to conform to others’ expectations is a determinant of survival and success. So, for example, an introvert may act as an extrovert in the office if that’s what the job demands. Much psychological research has focused on the question of whether this out-of-character behavior is healthy and adaptive, or harmful.

    “Acting out of character for too long is draining,” Lena Wang, a senior lecturer at RMIT University in Australia who researches workplace personality issues, said in an email. “When people do this, they put on a façade and act to meet others’ expectation rather than out of one’s free will – that deprived sense of autonomy, coupled with the less authentic self-expression, is hurtful for our functioning and wellbeing over the long run.”

    In other words, it’s a question of degree. We can adopt the behaviors of people who aren’t like us – what the Canadian psychologist Brian Little terms “free traits” – as long as we don’t feel we are straying too far from who we really are. Do that, and we’re likely to experience stress. The 19th century American psychologist William James used a German word to describe this state: zerrissenheit, literally “torn-to-pieces-hood.” (Of course, adopting unfamiliar behaviors to achieve an end with full knowledge and awareness is different from evolving distinct separate identities — then we’re into the realm of multiple personality disorder.)

    Beyond this, Severance hints at deeper psychological truths. We all carry the sense that we are the same person from minute to minute, acting consistently with who we feel ourselves to be. The accuracy of this belief is open to question – and has been for more than 2,000 years. The self is an illusion, the Buddha taught. It’s a position supported by modern neuroscience. The brain is less a unified organ than a series of separate structures laid on top of each other, like a house that has been repeatedly remodeled, Robert Ornstein wrote in Multimind. We “wheel” from part to part according to the discrete task that it evolved to handle.

    Yet at the same time we have an inner compulsion toward unity and completeness. That’s also a notion with ancient roots, being a plank of Daoism that became a central theme of the work of Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.

    If there’s a moral in Severance, it’s that separation doesn’t work, in the end. Not surprisingly, the severed office selves become frustrated with their cloistered below-ground existence and plot to break through to the outside. (The psychoanalytical analogy is obvious: The unconscious will make itself felt, and the more it’s ignored, the harder it will knock.) The lesson for employees contemplating a forced end to their work-from-home sojourn is: Stay in touch with every part of yourself, and don’t stray too far from whom you feel yourself to be in the pursuit of career success, if you want to avoid burnout and maladjustment.

    We don’t know where Severance is heading ultimately. That will be for Season 2. You might want to check it out. Just make sure you and your work face watch it together.

    More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

    • Five Days a Week in the Office Is for the Best: Allison Schrager

    • Return-to-Office Pitches Need Updating: Sarah Green Carmichael

    • Why Revive the Commute When Gas Is So Pricey?: Brooke Sutherland

    This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

    Matthew Brooker is a columnist and editor with Bloomberg Opinion. He previously was a columnist, editor and bureau chief for Bloomberg News. Before joining Bloomberg, he worked for the South China Morning Post. He is a CFA charterholder.

    More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion



    Source link

    Related posts:

    1. Why Ukraine Negotiations Are Both Futile and Necessary
    2. Boris Johnson warns consumers as he says cutting reliance on Russian energy ‘will be painful’ – UK politics live | Politics
    3. The Supreme Credentials of Ketanji Brown Jackson
    4. Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons, US promises Israel | Iran nuclear deal
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleRosacea symptoms: An enlarged nose could indicate risk and may affect the eyes
    Next Article Foods you should never keep in the fridge including cucumbers, chocolate and ketchup
    James Martin
    • Website

    Related Posts

    The Chief Justice’s Wife Has Every Right to Her Legal Career

    February 2, 2023

    Biden Faces His Nixon Moment on Alaskan Oil

    February 2, 2023

    Hindenburg Gives a Masterclass. Adani Flunks

    February 2, 2023

    Fed Pivot Is Dead. Long Live the Fed Pirouette.

    February 2, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Search
    Categories
    • Automobile
    • Business
    • Coronavirus
    • Culture
    • Editorials
    • Finance
    • Gadgets
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Mobiles
    • Money
    • News
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Trending
    • World
    Latest Posts

    The Chief Justice’s Wife Has Every Right to Her Legal Career

    February 2, 2023

    Biden Faces His Nixon Moment on Alaskan Oil

    February 2, 2023

    Hindenburg Gives a Masterclass. Adani Flunks

    February 2, 2023

    Fed Pivot Is Dead. Long Live the Fed Pirouette.

    February 2, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Don't Miss
    News

    The Chief Justice’s Wife Has Every Right to Her Legal Career

    By James MartinFebruary 2, 20230

    Comment on this storyCommentThe search for conflicts of interest in the personal lives of the…

    Biden Faces His Nixon Moment on Alaskan Oil

    February 2, 2023

    Hindenburg Gives a Masterclass. Adani Flunks

    February 2, 2023

    Fed Pivot Is Dead. Long Live the Fed Pirouette.

    February 2, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    About Us

    Hello friends, I am James Martin. Welcome to my blog todaynewsjournal.com. We are a team of experienced journalists who are passionate about delivering the latest news and current events to our readers. Our editorial team is dedicated to providing the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. We aim to be your go-to source for news and current events. Here on this site, You will get up to date information regarding all important categories like business ideas, health tips,... (Read More)

    Latest News

    The Chief Justice’s Wife Has Every Right to Her Legal Career

    February 2, 2023

    Biden Faces His Nixon Moment on Alaskan Oil

    February 2, 2023

    Hindenburg Gives a Masterclass. Adani Flunks

    February 2, 2023
    SIGN UP NEWSLETTER

    Join The Conversation sign up to receive emails for The Daily special tips general info.

      Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
      • Home
      • Editorials
      • Get In Touch

      Copyright © 2021-2023 · Today News Journal Privacy Policy

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

      We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
      Cookie SettingsAccept All
      Manage consent

      Privacy Overview

      This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
      Necessary
      Always Enabled
      Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
      CookieDurationDescription
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
      viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
      Functional
      Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
      Performance
      Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
      Analytics
      Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
      Advertisement
      Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
      Others
      Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
      SAVE & ACCEPT

      Sign In or Register

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below.

      Lost password?