A "side effect" is an undesirable by-product. The term is often used in connection with medication, but it can apply equally well to academic or mental pursuits:
Politics and Government
Advantages include:
- a recognition of the impact of politics and government on culture, morality, and even faith
Side effects include:
- a tendency to accept and even embrace the illogical and even things that cause a great deal of harm
- a tendency to become obsessed with the media, or what other (often less intelligent) people are saying
- an acceptance of unproductive and even counterproductive behavior
- an embrace of, and even delight in, deceit
Engineering
Advantages include:
- acceptance of full accountability
- rejection of deceit
- recognition of the value of redundancy to guard against failure
Side effects include:
- overemphasis on materialism
- unwillingness to get involved politically
Mathematics
Advantages include:
- acceptance of logic
Disadvantages include:
- lack of meaningful accountability
- lack of recognition of the adversarial nature of life
Law
Advantages include:
- Appreciation of the value of dissent
Disadvantages include:
- Lack of appreciation of limits on judicial authority
History
Advantages include:
- Recognize the historical progression towards greater Christianity and conservatism, and the ever-changing competitors to both
Disadvantages include:
- Under-appreciation of logic, and how not all beliefs are equal
- Preoccupation with status and positions, rather than achievement