If you have poor people skills, can you still be a good anthropologist?

Question

If you have poor people skills, can you still be a good anthropologist?

Answer 1

Most of the above answers assumed that "People skills" are those used in social interaction.......it's actually a poor colloquial term, almost slang-ish......an anthropologist needs to UNDERSTAND PEOPLE, habits, culture, religions, social attitudes and behavior in THEIR culture, not ours.....he/she does not need particular social skills.....except some sort of communication skills...such as writing....is important, otherwise how can they communicate their findings in research in the lab or field to others?

Answer 2

Sure! From my experience in 2 different graduate programs in anthropology, most anthropologists have truly awful people skills. Most anthropologists are rather strange dressers and socially awkward -- that's why I love them.

I'm pretty socially awkward and I've gotten through an extended period of fieldwork. In fact, I think my awkwardness helped me a bit.  My best informant approached me when I was at my most awkward. He later explained that he felt so badly for me that he talked to me. I have no problem taking people's pity if it helps the fieldwork process.

Anyway, if you have poor people skills, you'll probably fit in with anthropologists perfectly :)

Answer 3

I have no idea, but discuss with your guidance counselor, they might be able to give you more direction.

Answer 4

I believe so. It is study of human interaction not personalities. The study may take you into human contact but not for social reasons and you should be able to separate the two.

I assume a lot of the work in  anthropology would be the collecting, collating, researching, editing and correlating the information gathered.

This would involve an office atmosphere, secluded for the most part of the academics. So I don't see how you would need people skills, but it doesn't mean that you cannot learn these skills for your own benefit.

Answer 5

Catgirl is correct, most of the anthropologists I know have poor people skills.  The same can be said for most scientific fields.  Chuckle, I'm an engineer & people are always asking my wife why I am so quite.  I really don't mean to be anti social, but find it hard to talk just to be talking.

Answer 6

Yes, but only if you want to become a Biological Anthropologist. :)

Seriously, many scientists are notoriously bad at dealing with living humans.

Answer 7

Yes...

If you know your subject of studies you should be able to excel, regarding of your people skills. Anthropologist studies people & their culture - so, however poor the people skills are, if you show people that you respect them and you should be able to get along just fine.

However, if you think you have poor people skills (and kudos for you for actually realizing it - some people just blinded by this and refused to admit it) there's nothing wrong with trying to improve your people skills. It won't only (perhaps) helps you in your academic & career, it might help you dealing with other people socially, too.

Answer 8

Absolutely.

In fact, some people believe that many smart people with poor people skills escape into academia of various types because it's possible to succeed there without such skills.