Overly shallow?: Miscalibrated expectations create a barrier to deeper conversation.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Series of randomized and controlled behavioral experiments in humans
PubMed 34591541 · doi:10.1037/pspa0000281
What was done
Across a multi-experiment series (Experiments 1a through 7b), researchers compared participants' pre-conversation expectations with their actual experiences during shallow versus deep conversations with strangers and close contacts. Measured outcomes included anticipated and experienced awkwardness, feelings of connectedness, happiness, perceived partner caring, and topic selection.
What was found
The abstract provides no numerical data, test statistics, or effect sizes. Across Experiments 1a–5, conversations with strangers were less awkward and generated more connectedness and happiness than participants anticipated. Participants consistently overestimated the awkwardness of deep conversations relative to shallow ones (Experiments 2–5) and felt more connected after deep interactions (Experiments 6a–b). This arose from underestimating how much conversational partners cared about disclosures (Experiments 1a, 1b, 4a, 4b, 5, 6a). Predictions were more accurate for close contacts (Experiment 5), and correcting these miscalibrations led participants to choose deeper discussion topics (Experiments 7a–7b).
Why it matters
The study identifies an undershooting of expected partner interest as a psychological barrier that leads people to default to overly shallow interactions.
Limits
The abstract does not disclose sample sizes, participant demographics, effect sizes, or confidence intervals. The structured experimental tasks may not fully capture unprompted, naturalistic conversation behavior, and long-term relationship formation was not assessed.
Cited by
- supports People underestimate how interested strangers or other individuals are in engaging in conversation with them.