Generic math models and human behavior

On generalizing human beings.

I work with Data. But I am neither a ‘hardcore’ Data Scientist nor a Data Analyst (going by what they mean by the industry standard). If I have to quantify my designation it would be “Mathematical modeller”. I try to generalize complex business problems by building mathematical models. While building these models, there is a set of assumptions that you need to explicitly declare or implicitly presume. Without them the model is valueless.

Recently, through an epiphany, I have come to realize something. I don’t only try to generalize business statements but I try to do the same with human beings too.

For example, if I come across someone and I come to know about some of their whereabouts (like where are they from, what kind of school they have gone to etc.) then quickly I will make some assumptions before talking to them. There are cases when I have been very successful at this and there are cases where I have been completely wrong.

I remember talking to one of my colleagues for the first time. And my first reaction after talking to him was “I am never gonna hang out with him, ever”. Now after almost 18 months, we hang out the most among all our colleagues. Similarly, recently a newly joined colleague of mine shared his observations from our team. He seemed to have the same habit of doing these generalizations as me. And ironically he was completely wrong about all those observations except mine.

This reminds me of a great quote about modelling:

All models are wrong, but some are useful.

This quote is absolutely correct in the context of modelling and data science. But it is also very pertinent when you attempt to generalize human beings. I don’t know if everyone has this habit of generalizing or making assumptions about the people they come across but when you do try to generalize someone with some assumptions, you should be very flexible to update your prior assumption as and when you receive new info.

One thing that I have recently noticed is that it is not only others whom I have generalized but I kind of have done that for myself too. And the model built by me, to generalize myself has been quite off. In most cases, I have completely failed to update my prior assumptions about myself. The reason, now that I think of it, is deeply rooted in patriarchy and how I was raised.

If you’re a man who has grown up in Indian middle-class society, and if you’re very aware of your surroundings then you’ll automatically tie your self-worth with how much money you might be earning. You and many people around you will also do it quite religiously. You’ll have a strong feeling of guilt if you do something for pure “fun” before you start earning or you’re completely established.

I guess along with these models there should be an explicit assumption that we hardly talk about: A man (and a woman & others) contains multitudes. Generalising them is probably not the way to go!