Did you know that China is the country that exports the most?
Start by asking an open question that elicits a longer response, then move on to a topic that you both have in common.
Sources: (BBC) (The New York Times) (Cleverism)
See also: Weird things we all did as kids but never talk about
This experiment has been repeated in many locations, and the results are remarkably consistent. Even the London experiment yielded the same results.
When they actually engaged, however, the participants found that the conversations they had with strangers were enjoyable, interesting, and lasted longer than they expected.
In an effort to better understand the stranger danger phenomenon, behavioral scientists Nicholas Epley and Juliana Schroeder asked some Chicago commuters to talk to strangers on public transport.
Before the experiment, most of the participants believed that the interaction would go badly. They feared they would be rejected and the remainder of their commute would be terribly awkward.
As previously mentioned, we have been raised to believe that nothing good can come from interacting with people we do not know.
However, research shows that the interaction will probably go better than you might think. Take a recent study at the University of Chicago, for example.
If the idea of starting a conversation with the person next to you on the bus completely horrifies you, we understand.
Having a sense of community is essential for our well-being, and having short, regular conversations with those who share our environment is a great way to achieve this.
Learning to chat with strangers is also a great way to improve your confidence in general. If you practice on a regular basis, you’ll find you’re more comfortable in lots of situations.
In fact, talking to strangers is a great way to improve your social skills. That is something many of us are looking for in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing.
Being able to strike up a conversation with the barista, for example, will stand you in good stead for the next time you have to attend a work event or family wedding.
And last but not least, casual conversations with strangers are important for anchoring us in the communities where we live.
Lots of successful business people would readily admit that their biggest break came as a result of talking to strangers. You never know where it might lead.
While you may feel nervous before approaching someone new, or even uncomfortable when adjusting to the new conversation style, eventually you’ll probably have a lot of fun!
Human beings are naturally social creatures, and we derive pleasure from interacting with each other on a regular basis.
The more people you speak to, the more points of view you will become exposed to and the more nuanced your understanding of the world will become.
At the most, talking to strangers may have important benefits for both our mental health and well-being. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of talking to strangers.
Just think: everyone you know was a stranger at some point. All relationships have to start somewhere, so why not here and now?
You may not always meet your new best friend when you talk to someone new, but you will always gain a new perspective.
With every new person you talk to, there is the chance you might gain a great friend or even a romantic partner.
Of course, there is always the chance you might grow your business network, too. There is no reason to limit your networking to specific events.
While it is true that kids talking to strange adults is not advisable, this obsession with stranger danger has raised generations of adults who may be missing out.
For decades now, kids have been raised to believe that anyone they have not met could be dangerous, and that strangers should always be avoided.
Recent research shows that in reality, striking up a conversation with a stranger can, at the very least, brighten a person’s day.
If you were a kid during the '80s or after, you’ll probably be familiar with the phrase "stranger danger."
For decades, kids have been taught that all strangers can potentially be dangerous. From a young age, we have learnt that there is an inherent danger in talking to people we don't know. Unfortunately, that means that many of us, now adults, are more than reluctant to talk to people we don't know. Research shows, however, that striking up a conversation with a stranger can have benefits for our mental health and general well-being.
Intrigued? Then check out this gallery to learn how talking to strangers can make us happier.