#UXRConf Notes: Vivianne Castillo on Ethics & Power: Understanding the Role of Shame in UX Research
Vivianne just wrapped up an amazingly insightful talk around the importance of balancing your shame and guilt, and recognizing them as a responsible User Experience Researcher!
Originally from Chicago, this is Vivianne’s first time in Toronto and Canada! 🍁 Here are a few highlights from her talk.
You can’t be empathetic if you’re not vulnerable.
Highlights 🌟
- Vivianne transitioned from being a counsellor to a UX Researcher with help from her mentor who told her to find a creative hobby that has a beginning and an end. That’s how she discovered UX and she’s been in love with it every since 😍
- Shared four important qualities of empathy from Dr. Teresa Wiseman, Nursing Scholar — Perspective-taking, staying out of judgement, recognizing emotion in others, and communicating that you understand that emotion
🤔 She challenged us to reflect and think about ways to improve our craft:
- How do you interact with shame? What are some of the lies you believe?
- How do you show your users they’re not alone in that moment of shame?
- Do some self reflection, and think about how you commonly respond to shame in and out of your workplace.
- Before you sit with a participant, take 5–10 minutes before your session and ask yourself “What are things I’m bringing in?”
In closing, she left us with this quote from Brené Brown:
‘We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.’
Follow us live on our Twitter 🐦 with #UXRConf and on our Medium!
