Why talking to strangers can make us smarter

Why talking to strangers can make us smarter Getty Images In a suspicious world, many of us are reluctant to interact with strangers. "People are remarkably pessimistic about almost every aspect of talking to strangers," Sandstrom wrote, but that pessimism appears to be unwarranted. Getty Images Talking to your barista could be one easy way to start opening up to strangers Many factors conspire to keep us from talking to one another. Getty Images Be aware of how you might come across if you are considering talking to a stranger Talking to strangers can also make us wiser, more worldly, and more empathetic, says Harvard University professor and MacArthur "genius grant" recipient, Danielle Allen. "Real knowledge of what's outside one's garden cures fear," Allen writes, "but only by talking to strangers can we come by such knowledge."