'Stop talking for nothing'. Raise your hand if you've never heard the phrase! Supposed to silence those who talk too much, it implies that to engage in a discussion with your fellow human beings, you need to have something exciting to say. But a recent study refutes this prejudice. Far from being harmful, small talk is actually excellent for people's overall well-being.
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The benefits of small talk
Papotage in the language of Molière, small talk in the language of Shakespeare, whatever you want to call it, a recent study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, highlights the benefits to people's well-being of exchanging small talk.
By surveying 60,000 people in Turkey and the UK, the researchers realized that it's not always better to wait until you have something interesting to say. Exchanging banalities, a type of connection that seems to be lost in the age of screens and social networks, can bring self-satisfaction and greater well-being, by exchanging with other human beings.
Mastering the art of platitudes
But to be really effective, small talk needs to follow certain rules, so that it doesn't turn into a source of tension and frustration. To this end, the discussion must be kept light and deliberate. The aim is to create an initial connection that will act as a bridge to something deeper, if appropriate.
The experts recommend avoiding debates, intrusions into private life, negative viewpoints and heated topics such as politics or religion. Instead, it's best to talk about the weather, food, passions and so on. While for some this is easy to do, for others it can be a daunting task.
Our #socialconnections at work are vital for our well-being and effectiveness. For this episode of @RU_SMLR Third of Your Life podcast, I discussed my research on informal #socialnetworks, #relationalanalytics, #workplacefriendships, #ambivalence, and workplace #smalltalk! https://t.co/oHwszwLfxg
— Jessica Methot (@ProfMethot) January 7, 2023
This article has been translated from Gentside FR.
Read more:
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Sources used:
American Psychology Association: Getting beyond small talk: Study finds people enjoy deep conversations with strangers
TalkShop: The Negative Impacts of Social Media on Face-to-Face Interactions
