US EditionSmall Talk Surprises: Nine Experiments Show 'Boring' Topics Feel More Enjoyable
Researchers found that 1,800 participants in nine experiments enjoyed live chats more than they expected, even when the topic seemed boring.
- On Monday, a study in the Journal of Social Psychology led by Elizabeth Trinh revealed that people consistently underestimate how enjoyable casual conversations can be. Researchers at Cornell University conducted nine experiments with 1,800 participants.
- Trinh, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan, said, "We tend to assume that if a topic sounds dull, the conversation will be dull too." By avoiding these discussions, people miss opportunities for social connection that support well-being.
- "What really drives enjoyment is engagement," Trinh said. Listening, questioning, and sharing personal details can make mundane topics meaningful, regardless of whether participants or researchers chose the subject.
- Cellphones often hinder these interactions, noted Gillian Sandstrom, an associate professor at the University of Sussex. People may miss social cues while scrolling, overlooking chances to connect with strangers on the bus or at coffee shops.
- Nadav Klein, an associate professor at INSEAD, suggested that focusing on open-ended questions and shared experiences can help people overcome hesitation and cultivate connections. He advises starting conversations without overthinking whether the topic will be interesting.
32 Articles
32 Articles
New small talk study reveals why you should never fear a boring conversation
“Job treating you alright?” “Looks like this weekend is gonna be a real scorcher.” “That Cowboys game was outrageous.” These are some conversational snippets one might hear that could lead to immediate panic—that insufferable “small talk” lies ahead. But new research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology claims that people actually like, and often benefit from, these kinds of conversations. Researchers discovered that eve…
Don't Dread Small Talk. You'll Like It More Than You Think, According to New Research
—Malte Mueller—Getty ImagesIf you stop by your neighbor’s front stoop or go to that networking event or say hi to a colleague in the breakroom, you’ll almost definitely end up making boring small talk—right? The kind that makes you wish a bed would emerge from the ground because you’re surely going to drift off. The kind that you’re better off avoiding at all costs.Not so fast: New research suggests the topics people tend to dismiss as small tal…
Discussions on banal subjects, called “small talk”, may appear boring several times. However, a study published in the Journal of Personal and Social Psychology and quoted by The Guardian shows that people enjoy seemingly boring discussions more than expected. The results, based on the interviews of 1,800 volunteers who participated...
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