Engaging in conversations, even on topics we think will be boring, can lead to surprisingly meaningful interactions.

New research finds that dull conversation makes us feel more connected.

Parties have always been a contentious thing for me. I wasn’t particularly shy, and I didn’t dread going. I’d show up, make the rounds, do the thing. How are you, good thanks, what have you been up to ...

The small talk you try to avoid because you think it will be boring may actually be more enjoyable than you think, and good for you as well, according to research published in the Journal of ...

Is small talk actually boring? A new study finds that people enjoy "dull" conversations much more than they predict, ...

Small talk, idle gossip or general chit-chat that many people try to avoid may actually be beneficial for our general ...

It's easy to say, "I'm not good at small talk" and simply try to ignore it, Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit argues that small talk isn't an innate skill, but rather a learned behavior.

Small talk has been a pain point for me for years, but it sank to new lows at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was at the playground one day, sweating in a K-95 while pushing my maskless ...

Many people noticed that their social skills got a little rusty during the pandemic. My latest book discusses the psychology of mirrors and reflections. Research explains why being reflected by others ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. ‘If you think small talk is boring, that may be a skill issue.’Illustration: Guardian Design/Panther Media Global/Alamy ...

We’ve all been there. Whether it’s checking out at a store or trying to lull the awkwardness when meeting someone new, small talk has been used by all of us. For some people, having these little ...