Have you ever met someone new and felt like the two of you just “clicked.” We “hit it off” is how you might describe the encounter, marveling at how the conversation just flowed even though the two of you were strangers—at least initially. This type of interaction illustrates how, whether platonic or romantic, chemistry can be formed quickly.

As part of our daily routine, when we encounter co-workers in the break room or strangers at the coffee cart, conversation is often expected and enjoyable. Yet even incidental social engagement may have enormous positive benefits.

The Enjoyment of Engagement

Andrew J. Guydish and Jean E. Fox Tree (2025) explored the impact of small talk in a videoconferencing setting, including how it helped to form relationships.[i] Acknowledging that small talk is a big part of conversational perception, they compared different sets of task-break conversations where the break consisted of small talk........

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