The Unexpected Power of Talking to Strangers

The False Prediction: Fear of Interaction and the Desire for Solitude

In the course of our daily lives, we constantly find ourselves surrounded by strangers: on public transportation, in line at the grocery store, or in a coffee shop.

Our intuition and our social norms often dictate that the best strategy in these situations is to stay in our own bubble, ignoring others and focusing on our phones or thoughts.

We tend to predict that initiating a conversation with a stranger will be an awkward, forced and ultimately unpleasant experience.

We prefer the predictable comfort of solitude to what we perceive as the risk of a failed social interaction.

We believe that our train ride or our wait in line will be more pleasant if no one bothers us.

However, as research shows, this prediction is, in most cases, fundamentally wrong.

The Train Experiment: When Reality Contradicts Intuition

To test this belief, a group of researchers conducted an ingenious experiment with train travelers.

They divided participants into three groups: the first was instructed to initiate a conversation and try to connect with a stranger during their journey; the second to sit in solitude and avoid interaction; and the third to travel as they normally would.

At the end of the journey, everyone evaluated their experience. The results were compelling and contrary to popular intuition.

The group that was instructed to connect with a stranger reported a significantly more positive and pleasant ride experience than the other two groups.

Not only did they enjoy the trip more, but they also reported a higher level of overall happiness at the end of the trip.

Importantly, they did not feel less productive than those who stayed alone.

"Social Snacks": Small Doses of Connection with Big Impact

This experiment reveals the power of what some psychologists have termed "social snacks."

These are brief, low-risk social interactions with people who are not part of our inner circle.

These are not about forging deep friendships, but small moments of human connection that acknowledge our shared existence.

This is a habit that genuinely happy people tend to practice naturally.

They make an effort to interact with waiters, cashiers or cleaning staff, asking their names and showing genuine interest in them as people, not just as providers of a service.

These small acts of appreciation break up the monotony of the day, both for us and for the other person, and generate a small but significant spark of positivity that can improve the mood of both.

Daily Strategy: Challenge Your Assumptions and Open the Door to Connection

The practical lesson from all of this is clear: we must challenge our own assumptions about interacting with strangers.

The next time you find yourself in a public situation, instead of immediately retreating into your phone, consider starting a small conversation.

You can give a compliment, comment on something about your surroundings, or simply smile and say hello.

It may feel a little awkward at first, but evidence su