Sind Chronotypen ein Diversity-Thema? - Eine Diskussion mit Chat GPT Diversity bedeutet Vielfalt. Sie steht…
Are chronotypes a diversity issue? - A discussion with Chat GPT
Diversity means variety. It is at the heart of the current movement. Inclusion is the essence of diversity. According to“Aktion Mensch”, inclusion means that everyone belongs to society naturally, with all their special characteristics.
At the heart of the current understanding of diversity are the 7 dimensions of “diversity”. It is hard to say where they originally came from. The number “7” is considered a lucky number in many cultures and is often used to convey a positive, complete and mystical feeling. It often appears in lists or special promotions, e.g. “7 secrets of success”.
But is this circle really complete? Maslow also realized at some point that his 5 definitions of needs lacked a 6th dimension and added it, transcendence. However, as Maslow’s approach, modified by Douglas McGregor, was mainly heard in the business world, this dimension is missing from most pyramid representations.
I now see the 7 dimensions of diversity in a similar way. There is one important dimension missing, which is perhaps simply unknown or doesn’t sound so familiar or even sexy, but nevertheless definitely represents a dimension of diversity. The chronotype.
Since cobblers who speak about their own lasts are often accused of lacking objectivity, I decided to conduct an experiment and asked AI for its perspective.
Should chronotype be the 8th dimension of diversity, and if so, why?
My questions to ChatGPT are highlighted in gray:
Are late types currently discriminated against in society?
Answer ChatGPT (1:1 and unabridged, but translated from german separately)
Yes, late risers (also known as “night people” or “owls”) experience structural discrimination in many areas of society, as our social norms and working hours are traditionally based on the needs of early risers (“larks”). While this discrimination is often not conscious or intentional, it nevertheless has a detrimental effect on the well-being, health and quality of life of late risers.
Here are some aspects in which late types experience disadvantages:
1. Standardized working and school hours
In many countries, the working day starts early in the morning, forcing late types to work against their natural rhythm. Schoolchildren and students who are late types often find it difficult to concentrate early, which can have a negative impact on their academic performance and long-term career prospects.
Constantly adapting to an early schedule leads to sleep deprivation and chronic social jet lag for many late-night types. This is associated with increased susceptibility to diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. The social structure encourages this unhealthy lifestyle by imposing inflexible schedules.
Late types are often perceived as lazy or disorganized because they are active later and may go to bed and get up later. These prejudices are based on a disregard for the biological reality that chronotype is largely genetic and cannot be changed simply through ‘discipline’.
4. Lack of flexibility in workplaces
Even though some modern companies have flexible working models, many professions and industries are still tied to rigid schedules that take little account of the needs of late-night types. Even in professions with flexible working hours, meetings and important events can often be scheduled early in the morning, putting late-night types at a disadvantage.
The societal ideal of getting up early and being productive becomes deeply embedded in cultural beliefs and these norms create an environment in which people who are more productive at other times often feel uncomfortable or ‘deviant’.
Conclusion
Discrimination against late chronotypes may be more subtle than other forms of discrimination, but it is nevertheless real and has a significant impact on the well-being and performance of these people. Recognition and flexibility in dealing with chronotypes could lead to a healthier and more inclusive society. This would improve both health and productivity and could help to narrow the gap between late types and early risers.
In your opinion, should chronotypes be established as the 8th dimension of diversity?
Reply from ChatGPT:
In my opinion, it would make sense to establish the chronotype as the eighth dimension of diversity. Chronotype concerns a fundamental biological rhythm that is strongly related to a person’s well-being, performance and health. Although it is often overlooked, it influences daily life and, as already mentioned, can cause structural disadvantages.
Thehe inclusion of chronotype in the diversity dimensions could offer several advantages:
- Increased flexibility in the world of work: If companies were to take greater account of chronotype, working hours could be customized to maximize employee productivity and well-being. This would create a fairer working environment.
- Reduction of health risks: If people could work in accordance with their biological rhythms, this would probably lead to less sleep deprivation and associated health problems.
- Dismantling prejudices: By recognizing the chronotype as a legitimate aspect of human diversity, negative stereotypes such as the idea that late types are lazy or less productive could be combated.
- More inclusive educational structures: In education, taking chronotype into account could lead to more flexible school and university timetables, allowing pupils and students to reach their full potential.
Taking chronotype into account would therefore not only address biological differences, but also enable a more conscious and fairer organization of work and everyday life. It would be an important step towards a more inclusive society.
What do you think?
By the way, the german text was adopted 1:1 and translated into english. I can send you screenshots or a link to the discussion if required.
You can find more conversations with me and CHatGPT here.
Sunny greetings
Michael Wieden
