In most Western Advanced Industrialized countries, the prevailing advice for securing a comfortable income and satisfying career is pretty straightforward: not only should you specialize in a well-paying high demand profession, but excel in your job.
Although there are multiple paths to achieve this state of affairs, it typically means graduating from a respected school, (including earning certification, degree or licensure), receiving appropriate training, and working for good company.
For many people this formula works well. But for others this approach comes with numerous often unacknowledged or unanticipated downsides. These include massive amounts of student debt, long hours performing mind numbing and sole crushing tasks, in toxic work environments, and the reward as it often turns out is simply the paycheck and little else.
Individuals respond to this situation in a variety of ways. Some start to numb the discomfort with alcohol, drugs, or retail therapy, while others exercise on a regular basis, go on vacations, contemplate or engage in constant job and career switching, etc.
More recently some people have been advised to periodically get out of their lane.
What does getting out of one’s lane mean?
Getting out of one’s lane is an expression that refers to situations when someone gives their opinions or pursues activities outside of their usual area of expertise or knowledge.
It also means stepping outside of one’s usual role or comfort zone.
We have all seen, experienced, and perhaps engaged in the first type of activity. From the drunk at the end of the bar, to your obnoxious uncle that your family felt obligated to invite over to Thanksgiving dinner. There are lots of people we have met or know who fit this description. It might even be us. But that is not the subject that I want to focus on.
I’m more concerned with prosocial activities and situations that people can engage in with a minimum amount of resource expenditure. This might include trying a new type of food or cuisine, style of clothing, short educational course, hobby, place to travel to, etc. In sum, changing one’s lane in this context refers to trying something out of the ordinary, an activity or pursuit that you don’t normally do.
What does temporarily getting out of one’s lane NOT mean?
To begin with getting out of one’s lane does not mean waking up tomorrow and quitting your job, abandoning your obligations, or being a dilatant. This approach is also not a simply a palliative to getting unstuck or getting out of depression, although it might have this kind of secondary benefit. But getting out of one’s lane can provide a number of tangible benefits.
Why is getting out of one’s lane important?
There are several reasons why stepping out of one’s lane is important and advantageous.
This includes but is not limited to:
an antidote to boredom.
making people who pursue these interests appear to be more interesting to others
the possibility of a new job or career path,
exposure to new ideas and perspectives, fostering innovation and creativity.
facilitating a way to learn new things and possibly grow emotionally.
learn more effective problem-solving techniques.
expanding your network and opening up opportunities for collaboration.
learning to become more adaptable
Why are people reluctant to get out of their lane?
There re numerous reasons why people hesitate to get out of their lane.
Some of the more important ones are:
insufficient resources
Western society’s promotion of idea of career hyper specialization,
laziness
lack of natural curiosity
fear of not being taken seriously in ones primary career
anxiety about being called or labeled a dilettante
fear of the unknown.
The bigger challenge
For some people getting out of their lanes may be relatively easy, but I suspect that many, if not most individuals, have lots of rational sounding reasons why they should remain doing the same thing day in day out.
Having said all this, I believe that getting out of your lane basically comes down to taking small calculated risks, experimenting, and to be rational about this whole process. This includes writing things down somewhere in a place that you can refer back to. This may be solved by creating a file on your computer that you can easily access, or designating a notebook that you can keep handy on your book shelf or desk, that you can jot notes down in. In the meantime, there are lots of good books, youtube videos, podcasts and workshops that deal in whole or in part with this subject, worthy of exploration.
The time to start is now.
Photo Credit
Photographer: Nikkorz
Title: the rush 36/365
The traffic in the Bay Area usually sucks, despite the number of lanes the typical highway has here.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/5449400370_bee4a91907_c.jpg297800Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2023-12-17 17:29:422023-12-18 04:46:16Consider getting out of your lane
Whether it’s the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, the Sunday church choir, or a pickup basketball game, many individuals enjoy participating in both formal and informal groups and organizations.
Being part of an entity can offer numerous direct and indirect benefits, including, but not limited to, a sense of affiliation, camaraderie, and personal meaning. Organizations also serve as social hubs where individuals can receive mentorship and reciprocate the same to others. Groups function as social units where like-minded people can experience a sense of community.
These dynamics are not exclusive to casual settings; they also occur when individuals become members of professional and learned societies. In most academic disciplines, whether in the hard sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics, etc.) or the soft sciences (e.g., anthropology, political science, sociology, etc.), learned societies play a pivotal role in providing support.
What benefits do learned societies provide their membership?
Learned societies, regardless of the subject matter specialization, and the country and region they operate in typically:
• communicate with their members (usually through social media, newsletters, a scholarly journal),
• advocate on their behalf,
• distribute information about new scholarship in the field,
• share job and grant opportunities,
• hold meetings (sometimes called conferences),
• but most importantly are places to network.
But not all learned societies are the same, nor represent the interests of all members. They vary based not just on subject matter members specialize in and relative expertise that the members possess, but in size, management, demographic composition of their members, geographic concentration/scope (international, national, regional, etc.), etc..
Which learned societies are relevant for aspiring Criminologists?
The scholarly field of Criminology/Criminal Justice is no different. And thus, it is important for graduate students contemplating becoming academic Criminologists, and untenured assistant professors in the field of Criminology/Criminal Justice to understand the breadth and depth of these learned societies.
How does one go about doing this?
A simple scan of the web will produce lots of organizations that specialize in the field of criminology and criminal justice.
Although there are professional organizations for criminal justice practitioners like the American Correctional Association, and the International Association for Chiefs of Police, in the academic field of Criminology/Criminal Justice almost each western country has their own Criminology/Criminal Justice learned society.
In the United States the two principle learned societies in the field of Criminology/Criminal Justice are American Society of Criminology (ASC) and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). Meanwhile there are a handful of regional Criminology/Criminal Justice learned societies (e.g., the Western Society of Criminology, Southern Criminal Justice Association, etc.) worth investigating.
If you live in the United States and intend to continue your career here, although it might be interesting joining the British Society of Criminology, or the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology, unless you intend to grow your career in those countries, attend a conference sponsored by these organizations, or are deeply interested in matters of concern to members of those organizations, you might not want to join these learned societies right now.
It’s important, however, to not only read the communications that ASC, ACJS, etc. produce, but to talk to your instructors and professors (or fellow colleagues) and ask them what they know about these learned societies, with the ultimate goal of determining which one/s you should join. In short, some (or none of them) may be more appropriate to you unique interests, needs, wants, and desires and at your particular stage in your career.
Ultimately, one of the best ways to figure out which group is most relevant to you is to join one or more of these organizations.
In many respects, it’s relatively low cost to join the ASC, ACJS, etc., especially if you are a graduate student or an untenured assistant professor. Some academic departments, colleges, and universities even pay this fee. Alternatively, membership fees are typically considered to be a tax deduction in most advanced industrialized countries.
The future of your membership
Joining one of the relevant criminology/criminal justice societies is a relatively low-cost endeavor. However, over time, you might want to experiment by attending one or more conferences held by these organization/s. This way, you can observe members up close and determine how comfortable you are in this type of setting. But more importantly, it’s not just about joining the ASC, ACJS, etc.; over time, it’s crucial to become actively involved in the activities that these societies conduct.
Photo Credit
Title: Auguste Rodin, The Thinker
Photographer: Sharon Mollerus
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/52622147232_524356b0ef_c.jpg450800Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2023-12-09 16:29:482024-02-04 12:42:45Should aspiring Criminologists join the prominent learned societies in their field of study?
In our complex world, a subtle but persistent conflict often exists between amateurs and experts, each vying for recognition and authority.
Understanding the Distinction
Amateurs (sometimes called novices or dilettantes) and experts (occasionally mistakenly referred to as professionals) create things or offer and engage in services (e.g., advice, consulting, etc.).
But they differ on several key aspects. Amateurs typically lack experience, formal training, or valued certifications, diplomas, degrees, and licensure. Experts, on the other hand, may not only have these attributes, but they are recognized amongst their peers as possessing unique knowledge and skills.
Amateurs may be more willing to make false or faulty claims, and take financial, life threatening or ending, risks that experts would never pursue. Experts, often seem to be risk averse, worried about losing their hard earned resources, including their reputation in their chosen field. If experts do experiment, they tend to take calculated risks, whereas some amateurs may adopt a risk-averse approach.
Put another way, amateurs may be more inclined to “think outside of the box,” whereas experts, because of ego or cognitive inflexibility may be “set in their ways.” Amateurs may also serve a necessary function by keeping experts accountable, forcing them to explain or justify their methods or conclusions, or final products.
To call someone an expert means that we (or an entity) have bestowed upon them a prestigious accolade, whereas labelling a person an amateur or a novice is typically perceived to be demeaning.
An expert often makes things in their field of expertise or skill set seem easy. Speak to any expert at length, however, and they will tell you that they have spent considerable resources mastering their craft, trade, or subject area of competence. It is not easy for amateurs to become experts. Why? It is typically a resource intensive process, including paying for a costly education or training and using the principles of deliberate practice, continuous learning, etc.
Among the numerous questions that can be asked about these two distinctions is first, does a relationship exist between these two groups of individuals, and second, what is the best way to characterize this relationship? .
One of the biggest problems is when the amateur thinks and acts as if he or she is an expert (e.g., the Dunning-Kruger effect) and when the expert categorically ignores the amateur.
Numerous people and organizations rely upon or purchase the goods and services of amateurs, and with predictable often substandard results. Experts on the other hand, are typically more costly,
Proactive Solutions
In order to recognize and support the relative contributions of amateurs and experts, proactive measures are essential. Beyond acknowledging the nuances in the differences between amateurs and experts, institutions and professional organizations should:
• encourage and sustain respectful dialogue and interactions between these two entities;
• establish meaningful and rigorous mentorship programs;
• and develop thoughtful and robust platforms that facilitate collaborative learning.
This way experts can share their experiences and insights, guiding motivated amateurs on their journey. Simultaneously, amateurs can often bring fresh perspectives and ideas, contributing to the dynamic exchange of knowledge.
Wrapping Up
The relationship between amateurs and experts is multifaceted, requiring a thoughtful and comprehensive understanding of their relative accomplishments and limitations. In order to benefit the most, with these two opposing camps we need to foster mutual respect, and actively promoting collaborative learning, we can create an environment where both amateurs and experts thrive and learn from each other.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/28828915266_519b968a36_c.jpg533799Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2023-12-02 13:54:062023-12-02 14:29:45The constant tension between amateurs and experts
Consider getting out of your lane
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIn most Western Advanced Industrialized countries, the prevailing advice for securing a comfortable income and satisfying career is pretty straightforward: not only should you specialize in a well-paying high demand profession, but excel in your job.
Although there are multiple paths to achieve this state of affairs, it typically means graduating from a respected school, (including earning certification, degree or licensure), receiving appropriate training, and working for good company.
For many people this formula works well. But for others this approach comes with numerous often unacknowledged or unanticipated downsides. These include massive amounts of student debt, long hours performing mind numbing and sole crushing tasks, in toxic work environments, and the reward as it often turns out is simply the paycheck and little else.
Individuals respond to this situation in a variety of ways. Some start to numb the discomfort with alcohol, drugs, or retail therapy, while others exercise on a regular basis, go on vacations, contemplate or engage in constant job and career switching, etc.
More recently some people have been advised to periodically get out of their lane.
What does getting out of one’s lane mean?
Getting out of one’s lane is an expression that refers to situations when someone gives their opinions or pursues activities outside of their usual area of expertise or knowledge.
It also means stepping outside of one’s usual role or comfort zone.
We have all seen, experienced, and perhaps engaged in the first type of activity. From the drunk at the end of the bar, to your obnoxious uncle that your family felt obligated to invite over to Thanksgiving dinner. There are lots of people we have met or know who fit this description. It might even be us. But that is not the subject that I want to focus on.
I’m more concerned with prosocial activities and situations that people can engage in with a minimum amount of resource expenditure. This might include trying a new type of food or cuisine, style of clothing, short educational course, hobby, place to travel to, etc. In sum, changing one’s lane in this context refers to trying something out of the ordinary, an activity or pursuit that you don’t normally do.
What does temporarily getting out of one’s lane NOT mean?
To begin with getting out of one’s lane does not mean waking up tomorrow and quitting your job, abandoning your obligations, or being a dilatant. This approach is also not a simply a palliative to getting unstuck or getting out of depression, although it might have this kind of secondary benefit. But getting out of one’s lane can provide a number of tangible benefits.
Why is getting out of one’s lane important?
There are several reasons why stepping out of one’s lane is important and advantageous.
This includes but is not limited to:
Why are people reluctant to get out of their lane?
There re numerous reasons why people hesitate to get out of their lane.
Some of the more important ones are:
The bigger challenge
For some people getting out of their lanes may be relatively easy, but I suspect that many, if not most individuals, have lots of rational sounding reasons why they should remain doing the same thing day in day out.
Having said all this, I believe that getting out of your lane basically comes down to taking small calculated risks, experimenting, and to be rational about this whole process. This includes writing things down somewhere in a place that you can refer back to. This may be solved by creating a file on your computer that you can easily access, or designating a notebook that you can keep handy on your book shelf or desk, that you can jot notes down in. In the meantime, there are lots of good books, youtube videos, podcasts and workshops that deal in whole or in part with this subject, worthy of exploration.
The time to start is now.
Photo Credit
Photographer: Nikkorz
Title: the rush 36/365
The traffic in the Bay Area usually sucks, despite the number of lanes the typical highway has here.
Should aspiring Criminologists join the prominent learned societies in their field of study?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossWhether it’s the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, the Sunday church choir, or a pickup basketball game, many individuals enjoy participating in both formal and informal groups and organizations.
Being part of an entity can offer numerous direct and indirect benefits, including, but not limited to, a sense of affiliation, camaraderie, and personal meaning. Organizations also serve as social hubs where individuals can receive mentorship and reciprocate the same to others. Groups function as social units where like-minded people can experience a sense of community.
These dynamics are not exclusive to casual settings; they also occur when individuals become members of professional and learned societies. In most academic disciplines, whether in the hard sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics, etc.) or the soft sciences (e.g., anthropology, political science, sociology, etc.), learned societies play a pivotal role in providing support.
What benefits do learned societies provide their membership?
Learned societies, regardless of the subject matter specialization, and the country and region they operate in typically:
• communicate with their members (usually through social media, newsletters, a scholarly journal),
• advocate on their behalf,
• distribute information about new scholarship in the field,
• share job and grant opportunities,
• hold meetings (sometimes called conferences),
• but most importantly are places to network.
But not all learned societies are the same, nor represent the interests of all members. They vary based not just on subject matter members specialize in and relative expertise that the members possess, but in size, management, demographic composition of their members, geographic concentration/scope (international, national, regional, etc.), etc..
Which learned societies are relevant for aspiring Criminologists?
The scholarly field of Criminology/Criminal Justice is no different. And thus, it is important for graduate students contemplating becoming academic Criminologists, and untenured assistant professors in the field of Criminology/Criminal Justice to understand the breadth and depth of these learned societies.
How does one go about doing this?
A simple scan of the web will produce lots of organizations that specialize in the field of criminology and criminal justice.
Although there are professional organizations for criminal justice practitioners like the American Correctional Association, and the International Association for Chiefs of Police, in the academic field of Criminology/Criminal Justice almost each western country has their own Criminology/Criminal Justice learned society.
In the United States the two principle learned societies in the field of Criminology/Criminal Justice are American Society of Criminology (ASC) and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). Meanwhile there are a handful of regional Criminology/Criminal Justice learned societies (e.g., the Western Society of Criminology, Southern Criminal Justice Association, etc.) worth investigating.
If you live in the United States and intend to continue your career here, although it might be interesting joining the British Society of Criminology, or the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology, unless you intend to grow your career in those countries, attend a conference sponsored by these organizations, or are deeply interested in matters of concern to members of those organizations, you might not want to join these learned societies right now.
It’s important, however, to not only read the communications that ASC, ACJS, etc. produce, but to talk to your instructors and professors (or fellow colleagues) and ask them what they know about these learned societies, with the ultimate goal of determining which one/s you should join. In short, some (or none of them) may be more appropriate to you unique interests, needs, wants, and desires and at your particular stage in your career.
Ultimately, one of the best ways to figure out which group is most relevant to you is to join one or more of these organizations.
In many respects, it’s relatively low cost to join the ASC, ACJS, etc., especially if you are a graduate student or an untenured assistant professor. Some academic departments, colleges, and universities even pay this fee. Alternatively, membership fees are typically considered to be a tax deduction in most advanced industrialized countries.
The future of your membership
Joining one of the relevant criminology/criminal justice societies is a relatively low-cost endeavor. However, over time, you might want to experiment by attending one or more conferences held by these organization/s. This way, you can observe members up close and determine how comfortable you are in this type of setting. But more importantly, it’s not just about joining the ASC, ACJS, etc.; over time, it’s crucial to become actively involved in the activities that these societies conduct.
Photo Credit
Title: Auguste Rodin, The Thinker
Photographer: Sharon Mollerus
The constant tension between amateurs and experts
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIn our complex world, a subtle but persistent conflict often exists between amateurs and experts, each vying for recognition and authority.
Understanding the Distinction
Amateurs (sometimes called novices or dilettantes) and experts (occasionally mistakenly referred to as professionals) create things or offer and engage in services (e.g., advice, consulting, etc.).
But they differ on several key aspects. Amateurs typically lack experience, formal training, or valued certifications, diplomas, degrees, and licensure. Experts, on the other hand, may not only have these attributes, but they are recognized amongst their peers as possessing unique knowledge and skills.
Amateurs may be more willing to make false or faulty claims, and take financial, life threatening or ending, risks that experts would never pursue. Experts, often seem to be risk averse, worried about losing their hard earned resources, including their reputation in their chosen field. If experts do experiment, they tend to take calculated risks, whereas some amateurs may adopt a risk-averse approach.
Put another way, amateurs may be more inclined to “think outside of the box,” whereas experts, because of ego or cognitive inflexibility may be “set in their ways.” Amateurs may also serve a necessary function by keeping experts accountable, forcing them to explain or justify their methods or conclusions, or final products.
To call someone an expert means that we (or an entity) have bestowed upon them a prestigious accolade, whereas labelling a person an amateur or a novice is typically perceived to be demeaning.
An expert often makes things in their field of expertise or skill set seem easy. Speak to any expert at length, however, and they will tell you that they have spent considerable resources mastering their craft, trade, or subject area of competence. It is not easy for amateurs to become experts. Why? It is typically a resource intensive process, including paying for a costly education or training and using the principles of deliberate practice, continuous learning, etc.
Among the numerous questions that can be asked about these two distinctions is first, does a relationship exist between these two groups of individuals, and second, what is the best way to characterize this relationship? .
One of the biggest problems is when the amateur thinks and acts as if he or she is an expert (e.g., the Dunning-Kruger effect) and when the expert categorically ignores the amateur.
Numerous people and organizations rely upon or purchase the goods and services of amateurs, and with predictable often substandard results. Experts on the other hand, are typically more costly,
Proactive Solutions
In order to recognize and support the relative contributions of amateurs and experts, proactive measures are essential. Beyond acknowledging the nuances in the differences between amateurs and experts, institutions and professional organizations should:
• encourage and sustain respectful dialogue and interactions between these two entities;
• establish meaningful and rigorous mentorship programs;
• and develop thoughtful and robust platforms that facilitate collaborative learning.
This way experts can share their experiences and insights, guiding motivated amateurs on their journey. Simultaneously, amateurs can often bring fresh perspectives and ideas, contributing to the dynamic exchange of knowledge.
Wrapping Up
The relationship between amateurs and experts is multifaceted, requiring a thoughtful and comprehensive understanding of their relative accomplishments and limitations. In order to benefit the most, with these two opposing camps we need to foster mutual respect, and actively promoting collaborative learning, we can create an environment where both amateurs and experts thrive and learn from each other.
Photo Credit:
Title: “In experts hands” (2016)
Photographer: Brandon Price