Talking with strangers

The experience of sharing so much with someone you don’t know is rare. Many of us never speak with most of those we see around us; we truly get to know even fewer. As the writer Joe Keohane explains in his book The Power of Strangers, this aversion is rooted in social norms (talking with strangers is simply not done) and the complexities of human psychology (we tend to underestimate how much we’ll like strangers—or them, us). But Keohane’s book also emphasizes a second point: Talking with strangers is good for us. The practice can bring a sense of comfort and belonging—positive emotions that we miss out on when we stay quiet.

“Again and again, studies have shown that talking with strangers can make us happier, more connected to our communities, mentally sharper, healthier, less lonely, and more trustful and optimistic. source