Conversation and Fear
The Art of Conversation, part 2
Do you talk to strangers? As children, many of us were told not to, and some seem to have interpreted this as a lifelong proscription. As I discussed in “Talking to Strangers Can Change Everything”, there are societies, such as Sweden, where I used to live, where talking to strangers is generally seen as a risky proposition and thus something to be avoided. I am certain that there are plenty of people in other countries (the UK comes to mind) who also feel this way. But maybe, just maybe, talking to people is worth the risk.
This essay is part 2 in the series The Art of Conversation. In part 1, “The Art of Good Conversation”, I mentioned the importance of social interaction for our psychological well-being. Engaging in conversation with others gives us some of the “social vitamins” that we require as human beings, in addition to whatever benefits it brings us intellectually. An interaction with another person, whether stranger or friend, typically leaves us feeling good.
And yet, many people are reluctant to engage in conversation. Why is that? This reluctance is precisely what we are going to delve into here.