It’s tempting for you to avoid coworkers or limit small talk to the person who is waiting next to you to avoid a conversation you think will be boring. The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that those who engaged in these conversations found them to be more interesting and enjoyable than expected. There is also data that suggests that these “boring conversations” could be good for your mental and physical well-being. “These moments are small but they are not trivial,” Nicholas Allan, assistant professor at The Ohio State University Wexner medical Center and psychologist, says. The study looked at conversations about topics that people find boring. Participants were asked to predict their enjoyment of a variety of topics that they considered boring. The topics included World Wars I & II, nonfiction, math, onions and the stock market. The chats were with strangers or friends and took place in person or online. Participants said that they expected the conversations would be lame but they ended up enjoying them more than they anticipated. Even when both participants thought the topic was boring, this happened. “We decided to do this research because many people avoid conversations that they think will be boring. We avoid small talk, dread social events, and assume certain topics like the weather, commute, or daily routines will be boring,” says Elizabeth Trinh. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan and the lead author of the study. Why do we expect conversations to be boring or draining when they are generally good for us? Being engaged in the discussion matters more than what your talking about. Trinh says that engagement is more important than the topic. “People think that having an interesting topic is what makes them interested. Conversations are enjoyable when people feel connected, such as by responding to one another and learning unexpected details about their lives. Even a mundane subject can become meaningful if two people are actively engaging each other. “People are social creatures and connecting over a boring topic, like onions is still a connection,” says Aaron P. Brinen PsyD assistant professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Thea Gallagher is a clinical associate professor of Psychology at NYU Langone Health. Sometimes people predict that a conversation is going to be awkward or uncomfortable. “If you listen and connect in a conversation there can be many benefits,” she says.
