People Dread This Type Of Social Interaction — But It Has Surprising Benefits

SDI Productions via Getty Images The connections we have with strangers are more powerful than you realize. “These results suggest that talking to strangers is a critical part of a rich and diverse social life.” - Hanne Collins, a Harvard Business School PhD student and researcher She offered an example: Let’s say you had 10 conversations in a day. Collins says there’s likely many reasons, but one of the potential explanation is because our interactions with strangers are often unplanned and unexpected, which “adds a certain element of surprise.” “Unexpectedly sharing a joke with someone at the supermarket, or stumbling into an intimate conversation with someone on the train, or finding something in common with someone you never expected to meet — I’ve experienced each of these and struggle to describe the deep delight and joy that ensued from these unexpected encounters,” she said. You have conversations; you connect, even if by nodding or saying hello.” Being more aware of the consequential strangers who populate your life and engaging with them helps you feel less lonely and “understand the value of all people and all kinds of social interactions,” Blau said. “Interacting with strangers is likely to place us in contact with differences, which can remind us that encountering differences can sometimes be pleasurable, even refreshing.” “Consequential strangers in the wider reaches of our personal social networks expose us to new ideas and experiences, different perspectives, a greater swath of opportunities.” - Melinda Blau, journalist and author Blau also touched on the benefits of connecting with folks from all walks of life and how that can broaden our horizons and help us grow.