Silence may be awkward when talking to a stranger, but it's a sign of connection among friends

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-03-06 11:01

International

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Too long a pause during small-talk with a stranger can be awkward, but a similar pause in a conversation with a friend can signify the opposite, according to international researchers who analysed recordings of conversations between strangers and friends. Comparing the context of gaps of two or more seconds during the conversations, the researchers found what most of us know; awkward silences in conversations between strangers is a sign of disconnection. However, the researchers say gaps of similar length in conversations among friends were more common, they say, and were instead a sign of increased connection. They say these gaps were often used by friends for genuine laughter, or joint reflection on the conversation.

Media release

From: The Royal Society

Long gaps between turns are awkward for strangers but not for friends

Long gaps in conversation are not always a bad thing. Researchers analysed the frequency and impact of gaps longer than two seconds in conversations between strangers and friends. Long gaps signalled disconnection between strangers but marked moments of increased connection between friends. Long gaps between friends included more genuine laughter and were less likely to precede a change of topic. The gaps of friends may not function as ‘gaps’ at all, but instead allow space for enjoyment and mutual reflection, the authors said.

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Research The Royal Society, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Dartmouth College, USA

Funder: This work was supported by funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH112566-01 to T.W.) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA053311 to L.J.C.).

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