Most small talk feels like a polite game of ping-pong, say social psychologists Erica Boothby and Maya Rossignac-Milon. What ...

Small talk may be the most maligned category of conversation. For many, it's a time-waster with no redeeming qualities other than mindless chatter. Yet, when properly understood and applied, small ...

When Gillian Sandstrom was a graduate student in Toronto more than a decade ago, she encountered a stranger on the subway who was carrying a scrumptious-looking cupcake. Sandstrom had long considered ...

In addition to asking open-ended questions and avoiding boomerasking, the right way to small talk is to reframe it. Stop ...

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 ...

In a world where our digital devices have become extensions of ourselves, it’s no surprise that we often immerse ourselves in screens rather than engage with the world and people around us. From ...

Have you recently found yourself at a summer barbecue or work outing and been forced to make small talk? Some of us relish the opportunity to chat about things like the weather and pop culture while ...

All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Learning how to get ...

Let’s be honest: The hybrid office is a disorienting experience. After feeling pressure from management to return, many white-collar workers who went remote during the pandemic are starting to pop ...

What is your relationship with God? What is something you fear in life? These may be great topics for conversations, but we rarely tackle such meaty topics at social gatherings. Instead, our ...