Small talk can have big rewards

Even if it’s a topic you think is boring, chatting with other people can be a healthy pastime.

15 May 2025
Latest News
Read Time: 3 mins

Many of us have been taught to avoid “small talk” – those everyday chats about the weather, hobbies, or what’s for dinner – because they seem dull or pointless.

But new psychological research suggests the opposite: so‑called boring conversations are often far more enjoyable, meaningful, and beneficial than we expect.

This is good news for seniors, because simple conversations can play a powerful role in maintaining wellbeing and social connections.

A large study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology examined what happens when people talk about topics they expect to be boring.

Across nine experiments involving 1,800 participants, researchers consistently found that people underestimated how much they would enjoy these conversations. Once the chats happened, be they online or in person, participants reported enjoying them far more than they had predicted.

Why does this happen? Lead researcher, Elizabeth Trinh, explains that we tend to judge conversations by the topic alone, before they begin. But once people start talking, something else takes over.

As Trinh told British newspaper, The Independent, “We tend to assume that if a topic sounds dull, the conversation will be dull too. But that’s not what people actually experience.”

In practice, it’s the interaction itself – listening and sharing – that makes conversation engaging.

Even talking about ordinary subjects, from cats to the stock market, can become surprisingly absorbing.

“What really drives enjoyment is engagement,” Trinh noted. “Feeling heard, responding to each other, and discovering unexpected details about someone’s life can make even a mundane topic meaningful.”

This matters because social connection is strongly linked to better mental and physical health, especially as we age.

The research suggests that when we avoid conversations because we expect them to be boring, we may be missing easy opportunities for connection, enjoyment, and even learning.

As the researchers warn, skipping a brief chat with a neighbour, fellow bus passenger, or café regular can mean missing small but valuable moments of human contact.

You don’t need a brilliant topic to have a rewarding conversation. A friendly comment, a shared observation, or a curious question can be enough.

The next time you hesitate to make small talk, remember that what might seem ordinary at first could turn out to be a rich and rewarding interaction.

Related reading: The Independent, American Psychological Association