202
edits
Lazarus Davis: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 39: | Line 39: | ||
{{Heading|Background|Gold}} | {{Heading|Background|Gold}} | ||
Lazarus “Juice” Davis was born Jason Davis. At the age of 20, after surviving a harrowing medical trauma, he felt that his purpose in life was renewed and thus gave himself a new name – borrowing from a biblical story of a man resurrected. His friends, however, still call him by his nickname: “Juice.” His parents oscillate between Jason and Lazarus. Lazarus went through high school and his undergrad experience because it was what he was supposed to do, but the aforementioned medical trauma during his undergrad helped Lazarus realize that life is precious and perhaps too short to simply go with the flow. Against the objections of his parents, Lazarus | Lazarus “Juice” Davis was born Jason Davis. At the age of 20, after surviving a harrowing medical trauma, he felt that his purpose in life was renewed and thus gave himself a new name – borrowing from a biblical story of a man resurrected. His friends, however, still call him by his nickname: “Juice.” His parents oscillate between Jason and Lazarus. Lazarus went through high school and his undergrad experience because it was what he was supposed to do, but the aforementioned medical trauma during his undergrad helped Lazarus realize that life is precious and perhaps too short to simply go with the flow. Against the objections of his parents, Lazarus pursued a PhD in psychology where he explored his interests in cognitive science and effects of media use. | ||
After his time in academia, Lazarus found himself empowered like never before. He chased a dream that seemed so improbable before - a doctorate! - that he then felt like he could tackle anything. So he enrolled in Starfleet Academy. He found the experience equally rewarding and challenging. Learning to be a science officer was a fun, new challenge. After being so steeped in the social sciences, having a chance to learn so much about the physical sciences was exciting. Plus his expertise as a research psychologist offered some unique affordances as a science officer. Much like how a chemist could aid the Chief Engineer refit the warp drive to run on something other than dilithium, Lazarus' understanding of the humanoid cognitive systems could prove beneficial to the ship's medical practitioners, as well as first contact missions, and understanding alien communication. | |||
The distinction between clinical and research psychology is opaque at times. In fact, there's plenty of friction between clinical and research psychology because clinical psychology focuses on ''treating abnormal minds'', whereas research psychology is heavily focused on ''understanding and describing nominative conceptualizations of the mind''. Lazarus is solidly a researcher, with no medical aspirations or abilities (beyond the Academy basics). A counselor and a researcher are coming at the topic of the mind with radically different lenses and with fundamentally different goals. | |||
Lazarus can seem distant or aloof at times, and especially when when meeting new people. He prefers to hold back and read the room a bit first. In one of his courses in the Academy - History of Psychology - Lazarus took an outdated "personality test" (that amounts to glorified, corporation-friendly astrology) in which he was identified as an "INTJ." Lazarus often finds himself at odds internally: the inherent conservatism of a scientist against the pointed irreverence of a creative mindset. Lazarus' personality profile has correctly identified him as an ''agent provocateur'', but he wishes the file would emphasize his good-natured attitude, as ''agent provocateur'' can carry a negative connotation. | Lazarus can seem distant or aloof at times, and especially when when meeting new people. He prefers to hold back and read the room a bit first. In one of his courses in the Academy - History of Psychology - Lazarus took an outdated "personality test" (that amounts to glorified, corporation-friendly astrology) in which he was identified as an "INTJ." Lazarus often finds himself at odds internally: the inherent conservatism of a scientist against the pointed irreverence of a creative mindset. Lazarus' personality profile has correctly identified him as an ''agent provocateur'', but he wishes the file would emphasize his good-natured attitude, as ''agent provocateur'' can carry a negative connotation. | ||