Hello, stranger? Pleasant conversations are preceded by concerns about starting one.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized field experiment and experimental behavioral study
PubMed 34618536 · doi:10.1037/xge0001118
What was done
London-area train commuters participated in a field experiment where they were assigned to converse with a stranger, remain in solitude, or follow a control condition. A second experiment evaluated commuters' predictions regarding the pleasantness of attempting to initiate a conversation versus engaging in one, specifically assessing expectations about whether others would be interested in talking.
What was found
Commuters assigned to talk with a stranger reported a significantly more positive experience and reported learning significantly more than those in the solitude or control conditions. Commuters also expected a more positive experience from talking to a stranger than in solitude or control conditions. In the second experiment, commuters predicted that attempting to start a conversation would be less pleasant than actually having one because they anticipated that others would be uninterested in talking. The abstract does not report numerical values, test statistics, or effect sizes.
Why it matters
This study identifies the specific barrier preventing social connection in public spaces: individuals avoid interacting not because they expect the interaction itself to be unpleasant, but because they overestimate the social friction and disinterest associated with initiating it.
Limits
The abstract omits sample sizes, attrition rates, demographic characteristics, and exact statistical estimates. The findings are limited to London-area train commuters and may not generalize to other cultural contexts or settings. All primary outcomes rely entirely on subjective self-report.
Cited by
- supports People underestimate how interested strangers or other individuals are in engaging in conversation with them.