It’s tempting to try to get around your co-workers during your break, or to limit your conversation with the person waiting next to you to avoid a potentially boring conversation. But new research makes a strong case for a tendency toward “boring” chats.
The study, which was published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychologyhe found that those who actually participated in these conversations found them much more interesting and enjoyable than they expected. But beyond that, there’s data to suggest that these “boring” conversations can have a beneficial effect on our conscience and physical health is solid.
“These moments are small but not trivial” Nicholas Allan, PhDpsychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF. Here’s why.
The study took a deep dive into conversations about topics that people usually find boring.
The research focused on nine trials involving 1,800 participants. In the experiments, participants were asked to predict how willing they would be to talk about a series of topics they found boring. These included World War I and II, fiction books, mathematics, onions, the stock market, cats, and a vegan diet. These conversations were either with strangers or friends and took place in person or online.
The researchers discovered that even though the participants said the conversations were pretty lame, they later reported enjoying them much more than they thought they would. This happened even when both participants in the conversation thought a topic was boring.
“We decided to do the research because so many people avoid conversations they think are boring. We cancel small talk, dread networking events, and assume that certain topics like the weather, commuting, or daily routines simply won’t be interesting.” Elizabeth Trinhlead author of the study and a doctoral student at the University of Michigan, tells SELF. “If conversations are generally good for us, why do we so often expect them to be boring or draining?”
Participating in a conversation matters more than what you talk about.
In the end, the researchers found that engaging in the conversation was what really mattered. “Engagement increases enjoyment more than subject matter,” says Trinh. “People assume that interest comes from a fascinating topic. But in reality, it’s the sense of connection that makes a conversation enjoyable, like the feeling of hearing, responding to each other, and discovering unexpected details of someone’s life. Even a mundane topic can become meaningful when two people are actively engaged.”
