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[Hear movie clip by clicking on audio podcast above.]
That’s a scene from the 1968 movie The Party with Peter Sellers attempting small talk. And sometimes small talk can lead to interesting connections.
But according to a new study in the journal Psychological Science it might be best if you move from small talk quickly into a more substantial conversation.
Researchers analyzed 20,000, 30-second samplings of the daily conversations of study volunteers, and organized them into trivial chatter or more serious discussion. The participants also took personality and well-being assessment tests.
And they found that the happiest participants spent 70 percent more time talking with others than the least happy people. But more than just measuring amount of time spent talking with others, they also found a difference in the type of conversation happier folks engage in.
The happiest participants had twice as many substantive conversations and only a third as much small talk as those who are least content.
Of course this study finding shows correlation not causation. Still, the authors note, “Just as self-disclosure can instill a sense of intimacy in a relationship, deep conversations may instill a sense of meaning in the interaction partners.”
—Christie Nicholson
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8 Comments
Add CommentI assume that this is covered in the podcast, but this post raises several important points. It states that the nature of a conversation was judged from a 30-second clip - was this taken at random from the full conversation, and how could the researchers be sure that this clip accurately represented the nature of the full conversation? The article refers to the 'happiest' people - was this based on the personality test or from the well-being assessment, or both?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhere did these 20,000 conversations come from (I assume that the investigators did not emply wide-scale phone tapping)? It is stated that the 'volunteers' took tests - since it's unlikely that 20,000 individuals were involved in this study, that would mean that were multiple conversations assessed per individual, so the headline figure is misleading!
Like I said before, I'm sure the podcast answers these points adequately - would just be nice if the post had a bit more detail!
You would have to check the journal "Psychological Science" to get this information. Sci Am just gives us summaries for recreational readers.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere's no reason you can't supply substantive details for recreational readers.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100304165902.htm
The full article "Eavesdropping on Happiness: Well-Being Is Related to Having Less Small Talk and More Substantive Conversations," by Matthias R. Mehl, is available here for free:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2010/02/17/0956797610362675.full
to me any type of confersation is a good one. Well unless you are fighting or something. But if its a slow or fast talk you still are enjoying each other and getting all your info. Sometimes a short talk is the way to go.So either way it dont matter to me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthis is pretty dope! i love indian accents C: they are so friendly to lsten to! i like long talk, because it makes me feel important, and likeill be able say what i want because they will care about time, and not rush me, like im worth listening to, and vice versa. short convo's are cool i guess, only if your in a rush, but those suck i dont liek short convos with anyone. but i dont like to be be only one talking in a convo, im not gonna smile the whole time and wait for you to talk, thats the only time mine ar short when the other person cannot talk
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSmall Talk Gets a Bum Rap
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhile I agree with the University of Arizona researchers who performed the study that the happy life is social and conversationally deep rather than solitary and superficial, I disagree with the conclusions that small talk leaves people unhappy. Rather, it is the inability to connect with others that leaves people unhappy and socially isolated.
Based on nearly 30 years of teaching and writing on the subject of small talk and conversation, I maintain that small talk is an important communication skill to bridge the gap between strangers and is a prerequisite for more substantive conversations. In addition, small talk serves at least three critical roles to create meaningful conversations and relationships:
1. It shows we are willing to communicate and demonstrates our conversation styles.
2. It allows for an informal exchange of basic information that includes experiences, values, attitudes and common interests.
3. It encourages rapport and trust, two prerequisites for deeper conversations.
Don Gabor is a communications trainer and author of How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends. He can be reached for further comments on this subject at 718-768-0824, via email at don@dongabor.com or visit his website, www.dongabor.com.
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