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Those small interactions you have with strangers have quite a few hidden benefits!

A Happier Year is now available \u2014\xa0 an illustrated calendar with 366 science-based actions. Use the code "happycastlistener" for 10% off at checkout on ahappieryear.com

[00:42] Talk to strangers on your commute, it\u2019ll make you happier

[07:15] Little social interactions make us happier

[09:19] Introverts still need to talk\xa0

[11:45] Affective forecasting, the reason we don\u2019t think we\u2019ll enjoy eating spaghetti\xa0

[13:28] Smile at strangers, it makes them feel included

[14:18] Put your phone down, you\u2019ll smile more

References

• Epley, N., & Schroeder, J. (2014). Mistakenly Seeking Solitude, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 143(5), 1980\u20131999.
• Sandstrom, G. M., & Dunn, E. W. (2014). Is Efficiency Overrated?: Minimal Social Interactions Lead to Belonging and Positive Affect, Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5(4), 437\u2013442. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613502990
• Zelenski, J. M., Whelan, D. C., Nealis, L. J., Besner, C. M., Santoro, M. S., & Wynn, J. E. (2013). Personality and Affective Forecasting\u202f: Trait Introverts Underpredict the Hedonic Benefits of Acting Extraverted, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(6), 1092\u20131108. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032281
• Wesselmann, E. D., Cardoso, F. D., Slater, S., & Williams, K. D. (2012). To Be Looked at as Though Air\u202f: Civil Attention Matters. Psychological Science, 23(2) 166 \u2013168. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611427921
• Kushlev, K., Hunter, J. F., Proulx, J., Pressman, S. D., & Dunn, E. (2019). Computers in Human Behavior Smartphones reduce smiles between strangers. Computers in Human Behavior, 91, 12\u201316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.09.023

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Huge thanks to Ashley for suggesting this week's topic! :)