Study Shows Talking to Strangers Has Psychological Benefits

Do you know what is the biggest problem when you talk about your fears, your emotions and your actions with someone you know? Their opinions about you come in a biased form. Many times, you are left in a bitter mood because you realize that during the conversation, they have judged you and they have judged you for bad. The question is for how long will give in to the fear of biases and judgement? You may end up suffocating with your piled up emotions. The simple solution to it is talking to strangers, they have psychological benefits and we aren’t saying this just for sake of saying. It is backed up by many pieces of research too. 

Psychologist Elizabeth Dunn of University of British Columbia has tested how even short conversations with strangers can affect someone. For the study, the participants were asked to enter a coffee shop and grab a drink. The catch was that 50% of the participants would pick their beverage and go out while the other half had to converse with the cashier. The result indicated that the people who had the quick short social interaction with the cashier were in a better mood and also felt a sense of belonging. 

Another study titled “Social Interactions and Well-Being” by the same psychiatrist revealed that any minor pleasant encounter with strangers can boost happiness and human connection. When we are travelling in public transport, we prefer to stay in our own social bubble or sometimes stay alone assuming solitude is what we are seeking. Are we really seeking solitude? Nicholas Epley, a behavioural scientist from the University of Chicago has solved the puzzle for us. His study indicated that commuters who interacted with other passengers experience a better ride in comparison to the seekers who preferred solitude. Hence, he titled his study, “Mistakenly Seeking Solitude”. 

The power of connecting with a stranger is astonishing. Even without having a conversation, a slight gesture like eye contact or a smile can increase the sense of inclusion. This is proved by Kipling Williams, a Purdue University psychologist. 

As a child, we are asked not to talk to strangers but these beliefs need to be shed when you grow up. As a grown-up adult, you can judge whether someone is safe or not. Even a simple hello which doesn’t look very significant can make someone feel very significant. When the presence is acknowledged everyone feels good. 

The biggest benefit of talking to your stranger is that it can liberate your mind. You can let go of your fear. The study has also indicated that people feel more comfortable in opening up and sharing about their true self with strangers than with their families and friends. Surprisingly, most of the time strangers understand us better. What makes conversations with strangers so liberating? As discussed above, you won’t be judged and even if you are judged is there a consequence of it? No. The lack of consequences allows you to express yourself in a better manner and have an honest conversation. 

When talking to a stranger, to tell your story, you start from scratch. You can tell your point of view, your story and most of the time they understand. Are you now wondering how you can actually start talking to a stranger to extract its benefits? It’s simple, all you need to do is make eye contact and smile or you can give a compliment! When you decide to talk to a stranger, you are in a way making a beautiful interruption in their daily life without hindering anything. 

No matter whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, a conversation with a stranger will always make you feel happier. If because of COVID, you are stuck inside your house all alone and are looking forward to talking to strangers, you can even do so. In fact, video chats like Chatroulette and Omegle which disappeared a few years ago are now making a comeback to create new connections. The best part of these websites are that if you like the conversation, you can stick to it, else, you always have the option of moving past that person. Also, let us not forget when you keep trying to talk to strangers, your social anxiety will reduce too!

The next time when you are in a public space, consider putting your smartphone in your pocket to acknowledge the presence of other people there. Together, we can all boost happiness with tiny conversations and gestures!