Monday, March 12, 2012

The Acolyte Stage

In the not-so-distant past, a colleague said, in reference to a promising young PhD student being advised by another colleague (not at our university), "He's just going through the acolyte stage right now."

The context was that this grad student seems to 'worship' his advisor, not in an obsequious way, but in a soaking-up-knowledge-like-a-sponge way, and showing deep appreciation for the research of his advisor, who is quite successful and famous (in the obscure way that one can be famous in a sub-sub-discipline of academia).

In this sense of the term, acolyte is used in a non-religious sense, except that the word worship is commonly used with it. In looking up the word and its various meanings and connotations, I learned that it is also the name of a horror movie that I have no intention of seeing (I hate scary movies).

Is there a difference between calling someone an acolyte (in the academic context) vs. a protégé (which also seems to be the name of a movie) (or protégée)? Protégé can technically just mean 'someone who is advised or mentored', although I think it is more commonly used to imply something closer to the meaning of acolyte in the sense that my colleague used it. (and that's why I don't really like the term protégé.)


My colleague was not using the term to criticize the student in question (he thinks very highly of this person), but he was amused by this student's apparent advisor-worship. He also clearly thinks it is just a phase that some students go through. I somehow missed this stage when I was a student, but I can think of a few of my fellow grad students who could reasonably have been described in this way (including one, mentioned in an ancient post, who even started dressing like our advisor, in turtlenecks and tweed jackets).

I don't think it is overall very common for students to go through an acolyte stage, but it is also not so rare. Agree/disagree?

I also don't think it is necessarily a bad thing (I realize that may seem like an obnoxious statement, speaking as an advisor, as if I wish my students were acolytes, when I most certainly do not wish they were), as long as it is quite brief and evolves into a stage involving more perspective (including the ability to be critical of the advisor's work) and, eventually, acting more like a colleague to the advisor. How brief is brief? A year, maybe two? Agree/disagree?

Do you know any academic acolytes, past or present? Do you think it is a stage, and if so, is it a harmless one that evolves into a more mature perspective, or is it a troubling sign of an inability to be independent and objective?

16 comments:

Alex said...

I went through multiple acolyte stages as an undergrad. I worked in two different labs and worshiped both of the brilliant people who took a naive young kid under their wing and let me get involved in Real Science. One of them has been a continuing source of advice, including advice in a recent professional difficulty that I got through. One of the high points of my recent academic career was when my students and I had lunch with him at a very recent conference, after I had gotten through that difficulty. It was nice to have 3 academic generations around the table celebrating success.

I also worshiped a semi-retired Student Affairs Dean who took me under her wing; she is now very old but she has a great many acolytes who still visit her (including me).

I think that an undergrad in my research group went through an acolyte stage. He eventually compensated by going through a defiant stage (which was a good thing overall, albeit a trying one).

AGB said...

The urban dictionary has some good interpretations (in a lighter vain). Many people around me were going through the 'acolyte' stage but my biggest surprise came from some tenured seniors who still seemed to be in the phase. I know their advisers personally so it was very funny to watch them walk and talk like their advisers. At some stage I think this shows a weakness of character - the desire to be somebody else. Deep appreciation is often not shown by
'acolyting'. But yes, I can totally vouch for the political favors that opens up for such disciples.

On the other hand, I think most advisers enjoy it and many crave it and if the student doesn't behave like an acolyte he/she is also termed insubordinate or not-so-enthusiastic (about the adviser's work). So no accounting for taste.

EliRabett said...

Technically, one is a religious, the other a commercial experience

Anonymous said...

As far as I know Protégé has a more delicate meaning. When you are somebody's protégé, you are THE student who is really important for that particular person/supervisor. The supervisor has taken a particular interest in your development and thinks that you are specially talented/suited for the research you are doing. Your supervisor (patron) sees your achievements (partially) as his/her achievement and therefore does everything in his/her power to help you succeed. In summary, it is not a one-way relationship.

dolce vita said...

I think I'm at the tail end of that stage now with my PI. I have immense respect for his work and his science and am doing my best to learn everything I can from him before I leave in a few months to go to a PhD program. I think it's normal to have some starry-eyedness when you have an adviser, but now, after having worked for him for 5 years (undergrad+MS), I'm starting to be able to come up with ideas and argue with him about his own, rather than being a yes-girl.

And on recent PhD interviews, I've had PIs challenge everything my adviser does (and not in a positive way). I might not like everything he does and all the projects we've got, but damn it, I will stand by his work.

Anonymous said...

Agree with Anon@06:06:00

Protege-status is bestowed by the adviser (as from on high) to the student. They are the "golden boy/girl" or "chosen one" that the adviser dotes on. Acolyte behavior comes from the student. As such, an adviser can have many Acolytes following her, but only one protege.

Roeslein said...

I went through that stage in high school and then again during my master, but during the PhD program? Not so much. I think that once a person reaches their mid-twenties, they tend to be less inclined to hero-worship, if only because they know that it usually ends in disillusion (advisors are human, after all) and bad feelings. I am lucky to have an advisor who is very talented and whom I like and respect very much as a person, but I am still a grown woman and I am not willing to absorb what anyone says without question. In fact doing so would seem rather immature to me.

Alex said...

As such, an adviser can have many Acolytes following her, but only one protege.

So it's like a Sith thing?

Anonymous said...

OT: Did you see this?

http://clarissasblog.com/about-clarissa/why-do-the-humanities-and-the-science-people-hate-each-other/

commenting on FSP? I recommend reading the last few comments too: hard to believe!

Anonymous said...

i'm a pi with one student who is in the acolyte stage. frankly, i would prefer it didn't occur because it is frequently followed by teenage rebellion. i prefer normal, respectful disagreement throughout the phd to the acolyte stage.

Anonymous said...

Wait, I know this - in clinical psychology it's called Stockholm's Syndrome. It happens easily especially with younger students gravitating towards apparent wisdom and power in an academic setting. A good advisor will not wallow in innocent admiration, but encourage his/her disciple to get a life, develop an own scientific mind, and quit riding on daddy's or mommy's coattail.

Anonymous said...

As an advisor, I don't think I would like to have an acolyte, whether or not it later turned into defiance. Sounds unpleasant.

Anonymous said...

OT but related to the above OT comment: ha ha ha, those people over at Clarissa's blog are idiots, esp C herself (or, to attempt to be charitable, she is just immature). Wow.

I also like the one about how it's obnoxious for female science prof bloggers to mention in their profiles that they are moms. Yeah.. that's really obnoxious and basically shoving it in the reader's face that someone is a mom. How do these people even function in real life (people who leave comments like that, I mean)?

Anonymous said...

I *still* worship my PhD advisor, and I completed my degree and went on to get a life 24 years ago. He is an amazing guy, and a pillar of my little corner of the research world. It was a privilege to have him as an advisor, especially considering the high prima donna ratio in the department I was in. I am not ashamed, although I rarely dress like him now.

Grad Student said...

I'm still an acolyte of my former advisor, and I think it bothers him. How can I move into the rebellion stage?

Materialist said...

Being an acolyte can be a primarily one-way relationship, while protege implies two-way commitment.