@goldencub, thank you for your post.
I thought of some more direct evidence after I wrote the post above, since I kinda doubt the OP will talk to a career counselor (although I think it would be a good idea). The top employers in the tech industry, as well as many others, all have an open floorplan with the express purpose of fostering interaction. Think of it as the dorm on steroids; you may get away to the library or class while in college, but in the open floorplan you are expected to spend your 50-80 hours a week right out there in the open with your coworkers. Google, Facebook, Yahoo, eBay, Pixar, all open floorplan, just about every startup in SF, as well as a host of more traditional companies. This ought to give pause who thinks that on the job in CSE you get an assignment and shut yourself away to crank it out.