Modern technology and effects it inflicts on technologists – Part 2

However, since majority of the start-ups are started by youngsters, the experience factor also takes precedence. The amateur become prone to depression and other mental disorders. They pretend to the world as calm folks however; under the hood are always
bodies trembling due to the fear of failure.

A psychologist from Stanford University, Dr. Keely Kolmes, shed some light on the issue as she has seen the same syndrome in her students at the campus. She said that Stanford students are always keeping up studies so studiously that it is too competitive
for their own good. However, keeping a calm and ‘cool’ composure on the outside reminds Kolmes of ducks, who are swimming very calmly on the surface however, their webbed feet are paddling too fast in the water to keep up with the flow.

She said: “I was always struck by the immense pressure the Stanford students felt to keep the illusion that they were doing well. We would refer to it as the Stanford Duck Syndrome: everyone gave the illusion that they were gliding elegantly across the water,
but nobody could see that beneath the surface they were paddling like crazy to keep up.

“My observation is that many people in tech culture experience similar pressure to maintain a public image. They are fearful of exposing their vulnerabilities to others or asking for help.”

She further added to bootstrapping concept leading to the depression that sometimes leads to suicides: “Those putting their egos, reputations, and wallets on the line, investing so much heart, soul, time, energy and money in these ventures are engaging in
high stakes behavior.

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Posted by Usman Khalid on Jan 2 2012. Filed under Sci-Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry