Minimal Social Interactions with Strangers Predict Greater Subjective Well-Being

Abstract

Past empirical work has repeatedly revealed that positive social interactions including expressing gratitude and socializing are associated with greater happiness. However, this work predominantly focused on prolonged interactions with close relationship partners. Only a few studies demonstrated hedonic benefits of forming social connections with strangers. The present research investigated whether minimal social interactions with strangers-just taking a moment to greet, thank, and express good wishes to strangers-contribute to happiness of individuals who initiate these interactions. Study 1 (N = 856) provided correlational evidence that commuters who reported engaging in minimal positive social interactions with shuttle drivers experienced greater subjective well-being (life satisfaction and positive affect). Moreover, hedonic benefits of positive social interactions went beyond relatively more neutral social interactions, Big-Five personality factors, and age, speaking to the robustness of the effect. Study 2 (N = 265) provided experimental evidence that commuters who greeted, thanked, or expressed good wishes to shuttle drivers experienced greater momentary positive affect than those who did not speak with drivers. These findings add to the burgeoning literature on hedonic benefits of interacting with strangers by showing that even very minimal social interactions with strangers contribute to subjective well-being in everyday life.

Vitamin S: Why Is Social Contact, Even With Strangers, So Important to Well-Being?

“…Moreover, experimental studies in which people are instructed to greet, smile, or initiate a very brief conversation—a single encounter—have demonstrated that such approach behaviors boost people’s happiness. Such benefits have been found in interactions with a bus driver, with fellow commuters on a bus or train, with a person selling cappuccino at a coffee shop, or simply with a fellow participant waiting to take part in an experiment (e.g., Epley & Schroeder, 2014; Gunaydin et al, 2021). Moreover, the short-term boost in happiness occurs not only in the person initiating the conversation, but also in the person whose social contact was sought (Epley & Schroeder, 2014).…”

Human Cooperation and the Crises of Climate Change, COVID-19, and Misinformation

“…Such benefits have been found in interactions with a bus driver, the person selling cappuccino at the coffee shop, or simply the fellow participant waiting to take part in an experiment (e.g., Epley & Schroeder 2014;Gunaydin et al 2020). But positive regard for others can also be extended to costly helping of strangers in need and can be reflected in universal cooperation, HUMAN COOPERATION 15 a general tendency to make a contribution to serve collective interest at some cost to self.…”

Vitamin S: Why is Social Contact, Even with Strangers, so Important to Well-Being?

“…Moreover, experimental studies in which people are instructed to greet, smile, or initiate a very brief conversationa single encounteruncovered that such approach behaviors boost people's happiness. Such benefits have been found in interactions with a bus driver, with fellow commuters on the bus or train, the person selling cappuccino at the coffee shop, or simply the fellow participant waiting to take part in an experiment (e.g., Epley & Schroeder, 2014;Gunaydin et al, 2020). Moreover, the short-term boost in happiness occurs not only in the person initiating the conversation, but also in the person whose social contact was sought (Epley & Schroeder, 2014).…”

“…Throughout this article, we emphasize the benefits of interactions with strangers themselves -Vitamin S. While such social benefits may be quite universal (e.g., Gunaydin et al, 2020), we acknowledge that individual differences matter. Some evidence suggests that extraverted individuals are more optimistic than introverted individuals about an interaction with strangers, even though after the actual experience the benefits do not differ much (Zelenski et al, 2013).…”