Why we SHOULD talk to strangers: Psychologists say we’d be happier if we talked to people we didn’t know

  • 研究員s from the University of Chicago asked 通勤（学）者s to socialise
  • For a small reward they asked them to talk to strangers on their train
  • They 設立する that people who talked said that they enjoyed their trip more
  • People asked to 予報する the results thought the 結果 would be opposite
  • The 熟考する／考慮する 結論するs we would be happier if we socialised with others more

By Jonathan O'Callaghan

Published: | Updated:

From an 早期に age children are taught not to talk to strangers, but as adults should people be more chatty with people they don’t know?

That’s the 事例／患者 によれば two 研究員s at the University of Chicago, who say conversing with strangers can 現実に make people happier.

In a 熟考する／考慮する they 設立する that when people were encouraged to talk with others on their 減刑する／通勤する they enjoyed their 旅行 more, and 副／悪徳行為 versa for when they kept to themselves.

Is a stranger just a friend you haven't met? Researchers from the University of Chicago asked commuters to socialise with people they didn't know for a small reward. They found that people who talked said that they enjoyed their trip more. However, people asked to predict the results thought the outcome would be opposite

Is a stranger just a friend you 港／避難所't met? 研究員s from the University of Chicago asked 通勤（学）者s to socialise with people they didn't know for a small reward. They 設立する that people who talked said that they enjoyed their trip more. However, people asked to 予報する the results thought the 結果 would be opposite

DR EPLEY'S COMMENTS ON THE RESEARCH

'I think our results 簡単に tell us that people are 行方不明の 適切な時期s for social 約束／交戦 that would be more rewarding than one might 推定する／予想する,' he tells MailOnline.?

'Modern 都市の life creates many 状況／情勢s where strangers in の近くに proximity to each other.?

'Engaging one of those people in a quick conversation could make each of those 状況／情勢s surprisingly more pleasant.

'These data 示唆する that if your goal is to be a little happier that you might さもなければ be, or to turn an unpleasant 状況／情勢 (like a 減刑する／通勤する on publi c transportation or a dull period in a waiting room) into something more pleasant, then trying to get to know a fellow human 存在 could be a useful 戦略.'

He also 追加するs that although the 研究 was done in the U.S. he sees no 推論する／理由 why the same 結論s cannot be 適用するd to countries like the UK.

The 熟考する／考慮する was carried out by Dr Nicholas Epley and Ms Juliana Schroeder from the University of Chicago.

In Homewood, Illinois they gathered 100 通勤（学）者s and 分裂（する） them into three groups, 報告（する）／憶測s Discover.

One group was asked to talk to strangers, the next to stay silent and the third to 行為／法令／行動する as normal, all in 交流 for a complimentary $5 (£3) Starbucks gift card.

After the 減刑する／通勤する the volunteers were asked to 査定する／（税金などを）課す how much they enjoyed their 旅行.

Those who had struck up a conversation with someone they didn’t know 報告（する）／憶測d a more enjoyable 減刑する／通勤する.

Those who had sat in 孤独, 一方／合間, 報告（する）／憶測d a いっそう少なく pleasurable 旅行 and were even said to be feeling いっそう少なく 生産力のある.

Interestingly, the 研究員s also gathered another group of volunteers, but there were just asked to 予報する what they thought the results of the 実験 would be, and not to take part themselves.

They thought that those 通勤（学）者s who sat in silence would have a more enjoyable time, rather than those who spoke to others.

Are people missing chances to be happier by keeping to themselves on their commute? 'Human beings are social animals,' say the researchers. 'Those who misunderstand the consequences of social interactions may not, in at least some contexts, be social enough for their own well-being'

Are people 行方不明の chances to be happier by keeping to themselves on their 減刑する／通勤する? 'Human 存在s are social animals,' say the 研究員s. 'Those who misunderstand the consequences of social interactions may not, in at least some 状況s, be social enough for their own 井戸／弁護士席-存在'

The results of the 熟考する／考慮する support other 研究 into this area, すなわち that people can be 刺激するd by 持つ／拘留するing conversations with people they don’t know.

And many also believe that 試みる／企てるs to start up a conversation will be met with ridicule, but that has been shown in this 実験 not to be the 事例／患者 with the 普通の／平均（する） 自然保護 継続している 14 minutes.

In their paper the 研究員s ask: ‘Connecting with others 増加するs happiness, but strangers in の近くに proximity routinely ignore each other. Why?’

They postulate that either ‘孤独 is a more 肯定的な experience than interacting with strangers, or people misunderstand the consequences of distant social 関係s.’

But they 結論する, によれば their 研究, that it is the latter that is the 事例／患者 and not the former.

‘The 楽しみ of 関係 seems contagious,’ they continue.

Indeed, in a separate 実験 関係者s who were spoken to in a 研究室／実験室 waiting room said they had a more 肯定的な experience than those who were sat alone.

‘Human 存在s are social animals,’ say the 研究員s.

‘Those who misunderstand the consequences of social interactions may not, in at least some 状況s, be social enough for their own 井戸／弁護士席-存在.’

Most watched News ビデオs

Comments 6

株 what you think

The comments below have not been 穏健なd.

The 見解（をとる）s 表明するd in the contents above are those of our 使用者s and do not やむを得ず 反映する the 見解（をとる）s of MailOnline.

We are no longer 受託するing comments on this article.