Why do we humans make small talk? We spend a lot of time worrying about how to chit-chat amusingly or captivatingly. We complain when it seems trivial or a waste of time, and we bemoan the stress of a ...

Research published by the American Psychological Association suggests that we often limit ourselves to small talk with strangers because we underestimate how much others are interested in our lives.

You’re standing in line at the supermarket or drugstore when a stranger speaks up. “Hello, how are you?” the stranger greets you. “Good, and you?” might be your response. Your conversation partner ...

Learning how to get better at small talk might not seem like much of a conversational superpower. Arguably everyone’s least favorite part of socializing, surface-level chitchat can be awkward, ...

Chitchatting about the weather or exchanging niceties may feel superficial and like a waste of time. But if done right, small talk might help you with your career. Researchers who have studied small ...

If you've ever had the unfortunate experience of saying the wrong thing at a staff meeting or a friend's housewarming party, you know just how easy it is to bungle small talk. The commonplace ...

Mr. Rosenblatt is the author of the forthcoming book “More Rules for Aging.” See more of our coverage in your search results.Encuentra más de nuestra cobertura en los resultados de búsqueda. Add The ...