Why being ‘a little more social’ makes us happier than we expect, with Nicholas Epley, PhD
5/20/202640 min
From chatting with a stranger on the train to reaching out to an old friend, everyday social interactions make us happier than we realize. Yet many people avoid these moments because they expect them to feel awkward or uncomfortable. Nicholas Epley, PhD, author of ‘A Little More Social,’ discusses why people consistently underestimate how much they’ll enjoy all kinds of social interactions; the psychology behind small talk and deep conversations; how technology is changing the way we connect; and why even brief moments of connection can improve our happiness, health and well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Kim Mills· Host0:37
We sit next to someone on a train heading to work, but keep our earbuds in and spend the ride scrolling on our phone, or we engage in some chitchat with a colleague or a new acquaintance, but stop short of a real conversation. These moments may seem small, but they matter more than you think. Psychologist research shows that even brief social interactions, talking to a stranger, passing on a compliment, can boost our mood and enrich our life in significant ways, and yet we hesitate. We assume that other people aren't interested in talking, that a deeper conversation would feel awkward, or that our kind words won't matter. So why are we so often unsocial, avoiding connections that could make us happier? What gets in the way of reaching out to others, and what happens when we do? How accurate are our assumptions of how other people will