Why small talk with strangers is more meaningful than we think
Gillian Sandstrom, a psychology researcher at the University of Sussex, explores the meaningful impact of small talk with strangers in her book 'Once Upon a Stranger,' highlighting how brief interactions can foster connection and wellbeing. Drawing from personal experiences and research, including The Kindness Test involving over 60,000 participants, she emphasizes that talking to strangers can reduce isolation and build trust. Despite societal trends toward social withdrawal, especially post-pandemic, Sandstrom argues that engaging with strangers in everyday moments can enrich lives and create unexpected opportunities.
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ShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountOpen this photo in gallery:Gillian Sandstrom.University of Sussex/SuppliedGillian Sandstrom’s conversations with strangers have yielded dinners, tennis tickets and piano duets, among other surprises. In her new book Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How “Small” Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life, the Canadian author catalogues how these small, ordinary moments slowly changed how she sees people. Today, Dr. Sandstrom researches the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex, with a particular interest in strangers and their effect on our wellbeing. When she strikes up a conversation with a gardener about her gladioli, the stranger shares her vegetable harvest.
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